Blair settles on EU jobs policy
Tony Blair today reached agreement with senior ministers on how the UK will govern the predicted influx of migrant workers when the European Union extends its borders.
The prime minister held top-level talks at Downing Street to formulate policies for limiting access to British jobs.
Tory leader Michael Howard has been putting the government under intense pressure over the issue, which he claims Mr Blair has been too slow to react to.
On May 1st this year ten new member countries, including Poland and the Czech republic, will be admitted to the EU. There have been concerns in some quarters that the UK could be flooded by migrant workers.
Other EU members such as Germany and Austria have already introduced tough new measures designed to protect their job markets.
It is understood that the British cabinet is divided over the issue, with some ministers favouring fewer restrictions on new EU citizens wanting to travel to Britain to work.
Downing Street is due to announce its proposals in full next week.
