For immediate release
– Tuesday, 2 February 2016
-With picture-
*TV
and radio broadcast facilities available*
Statement by
Professor Thom Brooks, Professor of Law and Government at Durham University’s
Law School and leading immigration law and policy specialist:
“Prime Minister David Cameron has announced
his proposed new deal on EU migration will be a hard sell.
Leaked reports of today’s proposals
outlined an ‘emergency brake’ that the UK could use to stop EU migrants from
claiming benefits for four years and deter growing migration from Europe. It was
expected that this would be the UK’s call and not require EU approval.
10 Downing Street set expectations too
high – and the fine print shows they will have a difficult time winning over a
sceptical public.
The UK cannot pull an emergency brake
on benefits for EU migrants without the consent of other EU member states.
Cameron’s proposals will require Britain to provide facts and figures to prove ‘exceptional’
pressure on public services by EU migrants – independent of non-EU migrants.
The European Commission and the
European Council must be notified in advance for their approval – only then can
any brake be applied and limited ‘to the extent necessary’ capped at a maximum
of four years. But it can be for much less.
And any brake will be gradual. Cameron’s
proposals allow for a ‘graduated’ limitation where EU migrants can enjoy more
benefits over time and full benefits when brake ended or in four years’ time. This
is a detailed proposal whose nuances are likely to be seized on as weaknesses.
Cameron has done well to get any deal
on the table of EU leaders. But his plan lacks the clarity of message of his
Eurosceptic opponents. While restricting EU migrant benefits is popular, that
it can only be temporary, proportional and at the discretion of the EU is a complex
proposal that may prove hard to build public enthusiasm for.
Cameron’s immigration policy is known
for being a trunk full of empty gestures and gimmicks. And the big problem now
is that negotiations rarely lead to no change or greater controls. These
measures may well be watered down further in the weeks ahead further undermining
the proposals as the fundamental change we were promised.”
ENDS
MEDIA INFORMATION
NB – Please note that
Professor Brooks is a member of the Labour Party.
Interviews
Professor Thom
Brooks, Professor of Law and Government, in Durham Law School, Durham
University, is available for comment on Tuesday, 2 February and
Wednesday, 3 February 2016, thom.brooks@durham.ac.uk
Alternatively please
contact Durham University Marketing and Communications Office on +44 (0)191 334
6075; media.relations@durham.ac.uk
*TV
and radio broadcast facilities available*
Durham University’s
academic experts are available for interview via down-the-line broadcast
quality TV facilities from our Durham City campus, via broadcast provider
Globelynx.
To request and check
the availability of interviewees please contact the Durham University
Communications Office on +44 (0)191 334 6075 or email media.relations@durham.ac.uk.
You can book the
Globelynx fixed camera and circuit direct by logging into www.globelynx.com. The IFB number is +44 (0)191 384
2019.
If you have not
booked a Globelynx feed before please call +44 (0)20 7963 7060 for assistance.
A broadcast quality ISDN
radio line is also available at Durham University and bookings can be
arranged via the Media Relations Team on the contact details above. The ISDN
number is +44 (0)191 386 2749.
A landline number is
available in our Media Suite which houses the television and radio facilities - +44 (0)191 334 6472.
Photographs
A high resolution
headshot of Professor Thom Brooks is available on request from Durham
University Marketing and Communications Office on +44 (0)191 334 6075; media.relations@durham.ac.uk.
Further reading
Letter by President Donald Tusk to the Members of the
European Council on his proposal for a new settlement for the United Kingdom
within the European Union http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/02/02-letter-tusk-proposal-new-settlement-uk/
Professor Thom Brooks, Durham University Law School
website https://www.dur.ac.uk/law/staff/?id=11140
About Durham
University
-
A world top 100
university with a global reputation and performance in research and education
-
A member of the
Russell Group of leading research-intensive UK universities
-
Research at Durham
shapes local, national and international agendas, and directly informs the
teaching of our students
-
Ranked in the world
top 25 for the employability of its students by blue-chip companies world-wide
(QS World University Rankings 2014/15)
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In the global top 50
for Arts and Humanities (THE World University Rankings 2013/14)
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In the 2015 Complete
University Guide, Durham was the only UK university to receive a top ten
ranking for all of its subjects and 19 of Durham’s 22 subjects were ranked in
the top five.
-
Durham was named
as The Times and Sunday Times 'Sports University of the Year 2015' in
recognition of outstanding performance in both the research and teaching of
sport, and student and community participation in sport at all levels.
END OF MEDIA RELEASE
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