The Financial Times reported a «migration safety valve» would allow limits on
EU free movement rules on the grounds of public security, public policy or public health.
The post-war wave of immigration to the UK, defined in the popular imagination by the Windrush boat from Jamaica, arrived under
free movement rules for the colonies.
«Labour is in favour of reform to
European free movement rules and we will examine any proposals the government comes forward with to manage immigration with interest,» shadow immigration minister David Hanson says.
He has spoken of the need for reform
of free movement rules in the EU, but the leaders of other member states, particularly Germany's Angela Merkel, have made it clear they will not budge on this point.
Another group of persons not covered in the UK paper is those who have entered the UK with a Surinder Singh right of residence, which allows family members of British citizens who lived with that British citizen while the latter was exercising Treaty rights in another Member State, to enter and reside in the UK under EU
free movement rules rather than domestic law.
Neither Albert Awuku, 43, nor his bride — of Ghanaian descent but a German citizen who can live in the UK under
EU free movement rules — needed to be present at their nuptials in Ghana in February 2013.
Alan Johnson, Labour's big beast on the Remain side, got his loudest cheer when he derided Nigel Farage's attack on Europe's
free movement rules.
In the latter case, the Court did not hesitate to rule on the compatibility of the activities of the national standardisation body connected to national legislation with
the free movement rules.
The same year, the ECJ delivered a judgment in the Fra.bo case and subjected the German standardisation body to
free movement rules.
The Government's plans to seek curbs on
free movement rules is a worrying one for many, as industries like engineering, IT, construction, hospitality, rely heavily on skills from outside the UK.
The free movement rules currently give EU nationals the right to live and work in other member states.