Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | National identity and Europe in times of crisis |
| Subtitle of host publication | doing and undoing Europe |
| Editors | Christian Karner, Monika Kopytowska |
| Place of Publication | Bingley |
| Publisher | Emerald |
| Pages | 61-82 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| Edition | 1 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781787145139 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781787145146 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 29 Aug 2017 |
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Britain, Bulgaria and benefits : the political rhetoric of European (dis)integration. / Moir, James.
National identity and Europe in times of crisis: doing and undoing Europe. ed. / Christian Karner; Monika Kopytowska. 1. ed. Bingley : Emerald, 2017. p. 61-82.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed)
TY - CHAP
T1 - Britain, Bulgaria and benefits
T2 - the political rhetoric of European (dis)integration
AU - Moir, James
PY - 2017/8/29
Y1 - 2017/8/29
N2 - This chapter considers the political controversy in Britain over the lifting of restrictions of freedom of movement on European Union (EU) citizens from Bulgaria and Romania in January 2014. The response of the then Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government centred on altering the rules on the payment of welfare benefits to potential new EU immigrants such that they would not be entitled to claim these benefits for 3 months after entry to the United Kingdom. This policy led to a split in the coalition, with the Liberal Democrat leadership claiming that it was a panicked move by the majority Conservative coalition partner, and moreover that it was a blatant attempt to appeal the electorate in an effort to be seen to be doing something to stop the welfare benefit system from being abused by ‘foreigners’. The backdrop to this political fracas centred on the economic contribution of East European immigrants to Britain and the claim and counterclaim over the issues jobs, welfare benefits and services such as English language support in schools. These contentious issues are examined in terms of an analysis of online comments to posted in reaction to a political interview with Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat business secretary, who claimed that the Conservatives were attempting to placate public disquiet over immigration as a response to the rising popularity of the United Kingdom Independence Party.
AB - This chapter considers the political controversy in Britain over the lifting of restrictions of freedom of movement on European Union (EU) citizens from Bulgaria and Romania in January 2014. The response of the then Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government centred on altering the rules on the payment of welfare benefits to potential new EU immigrants such that they would not be entitled to claim these benefits for 3 months after entry to the United Kingdom. This policy led to a split in the coalition, with the Liberal Democrat leadership claiming that it was a panicked move by the majority Conservative coalition partner, and moreover that it was a blatant attempt to appeal the electorate in an effort to be seen to be doing something to stop the welfare benefit system from being abused by ‘foreigners’. The backdrop to this political fracas centred on the economic contribution of East European immigrants to Britain and the claim and counterclaim over the issues jobs, welfare benefits and services such as English language support in schools. These contentious issues are examined in terms of an analysis of online comments to posted in reaction to a political interview with Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat business secretary, who claimed that the Conservatives were attempting to placate public disquiet over immigration as a response to the rising popularity of the United Kingdom Independence Party.
U2 - 10.1108/978-1-78714-513-920171004
DO - 10.1108/978-1-78714-513-920171004
M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)
SN - 9781787145146
SP - 61
EP - 82
BT - National identity and Europe in times of crisis
A2 - Karner, Christian
A2 - Kopytowska, Monika
PB - Emerald
CY - Bingley
ER -