Now the EU orders Britain: Let migrants claim benefits as soon as they arrive in UK

Europe has given Britain two months to scrap policies preventing benefit tourists claiming billions of pounds in handouts.

Last night the European Commission said it would take the Government to court unless it draws up plans to axe restrictions on claims by immigrants, saying they are against the law and must be scrapped.

Brussels bureaucrats acted after receiving a complaint that the rules infringed the human rights of EU citizens.
'Should be scrapped': The European Commission said it would take the Government to court unless it draws up plans to axe restrictions on claims by immigrants

It is feared the change could open the door to tens of thousands of Eastern Europeans who are currently deterred from coming to Britain – costing taxpayers up to ￡2.5billion a year in extra welfare payments.

At present a ‘habitual residency’ test is used to establish whether EU migrants are eligible for benefits.

To qualify for jobseekers’ allowance, employment support allowance, pension credit and income support, they must demonstrate they have either worked here previously or have a good opportunity to get a job.

But the European Commission said this ‘right to reside’ test indirectly discriminates against nationals from other EU states by enforcing a set of conditions that effectively tests their right to state handouts.
Opening the door: It is feared tens of thousands of Eastern Europeans currently deterred from coming to Britain could cost taxpayers up to ￡2.5billion a year in extra welfare payments

Opening the door: It is feared tens of thousands of Eastern Europeans currently deterred from coming to Britain could cost taxpayers up to ￡2.5billion a year in extra welfare payments

Yesterday members announced they were considering taking the UK to the EU’s Court of Justice if it does not scrap the test.

And they gave the Government two months to inform them of the measures it takes to enforce the rules.

Officials in the Department for Work and Pensions warn it would cost anything from ￡620million a year to ￡2.46billion if they have to scrap the test – seriously hampering plans to rein in public spending.

Employment minister Chris Grayling said: ‘This is a very unwelcome development.

‘It’s obviously right that we support those who work and pay their taxes here, but it’s clearly completely unacceptable that we should open our doors to benefit tourism.

‘I’m really surprised the European Commission has chosen to go into battle on this very sensitive issue, when there are clearly far more pressing problems to solve in Europe.’

A source at the DWP added: ‘This could open the doors of the benefits system to anyone from the EU, even if they have no intention of working.

‘That would be bad enough if we were in good economic times, but we are not in good economic times.’

‘We will fight this tooth and nail. This is a battle we will win.’

Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, said: ‘Once again we see the EC telling us how to run our country and people are becoming sick and tired of it.

‘The UK is perfectly within its rights to require EU nationals to fulfil certain conditions before taking advantage of our generous benefits system.

‘If the EC gets its way then there will be a far greater burden on the British taxpayer as more money will need to be found for the social security system.

‘The “right to reside” test should stay. It is not discrimination, but simply a system to ensure that benefits are paid only to those who are entitled to them.’

Stephen Booth, research director of think-tank Open Europe, said: ‘Freedom of movement within the EU has largely been positive for the UK but issues surrounding benefits and social security are understandably very sensitive.

‘For the freedom of movement within the EU to work, governments have to be able to assure their citizens that welfare systems won’t be abused.

‘At a time when people are concerned about the pressures of immigration, the Commission is playing a dangerous game by trying to overrule the UK on its “right to reside” test.’

The European Commission first set out its stall last year when it wrote: ‘EU law leaves it to member states to determine the details of their social security schemes and social assistance schemes, including the conditions on awarding benefits.

‘Having examined the “right to reside” test, it is not compatible with different legal provisions of EU law.’

Tevez banned for two weeks - and City are ready to sack him

Carlos Tevez was last night suspended for two weeks and told to stay away from Manchester City pending an investigation into his conduct during the Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich, with his club not ruling out the prospect of ripping up his contract and sacking him.

City said the Argentine – who is suspended on full pay – will "not be considered for selection or take part in training" during the investigation into why he did not enter the field of play in the Allianz Arena. City's decision to suspend him was communicated in a letter couriered to his representatives yesterday. It reflects a sense from the highest level of the club that manager Roberto Mancini in no way overreacted when he declared, in a post-match press conference, that the Argentine was "finished" at the club
Aware that Tevez's representative, Kia Joorabchian, will not flinch from a legal battle with them, City will undertake a rigorous investigation into what occurred during the second half against the German side, before making any move against Tevez. The player insisted through his representatives' spokespeople yesterday that he was victim of a "misunderstanding", claiming he merely refused Mancini's demand that he leave the dug-out for a second warm-up, rather than refuse to enter the field of play. This flatly contradicted the player's claim on Tuesday night that he "didn't feel" he was "right to play."

It all looked to be going so well for Nancy Grace on Dancing With The Stars last night, with her quickstep getting a good review from head judge Len Goodman. But the legal broadcaster suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction when her dress slipped down mid way through the energetic dance revealing a little too much of her chest area. The star was being dipped by partner Tristan MacManus, when the first mishap occurred, leading to ABC to cut away to an audience shot. On the European version that would be perfectly fine,' joked host Tom Bergeron, while judge Bruno Tonioli told Nancy that her performance was 'a bit top heavy at times.' Unfortunately, her clingy brown dress then slipped down again, as she and Tristan waited for the judges verdict. However, the 51-year-old later denied there had been a costume slip. 'Tonight, when we were doing our hopscotch portion of our dance, there was a little bit of movement but it did not rise to a wardrobe malfunction,' she told Us Weekly after the show. We have taken every precaution known to men in this dress right here,' Nancy added. 'I'm talking industrial size precaution. There may have been, as Tristan said, a little bit of jiggling but there was absolutely not a wardrobe malfunction.' However, the star did get an impressive score of eight for her dance from Len Goodman who said her performance was a 'breath of fresh air.'

But the legal broadcaster suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction when her dress slipped down mid way through the energetic dance revealing a little too much of her chest area.

The star was being dipped by partner Tristan MacManus, when the first mishap occurred, leading to ABC to cut away to an audience shot.

On the European version that would be perfectly fine,' joked host Tom Bergeron, while judge Bruno Tonioli told Nancy that her performance was 'a bit top heavy at times.'

Unfortunately, her clingy brown dress then slipped down again, as she and Tristan waited for the judges verdict.

However, the 51-year-old later denied there had been a costume slip.

'Tonight, when we were doing our hopscotch portion of our dance, there was a little bit of movement but it did not rise to a wardrobe malfunction,' she told Us Weekly after the show.
We have taken every precaution known to men in this dress right here,' Nancy added.

'I'm talking industrial size precaution. There may have been, as Tristan said, a little bit of jiggling but there was absolutely not a wardrobe malfunction.'

However, the star did get an impressive score of eight for her dance from Len Goodman who said her performance was a 'breath of fresh air.'





It all looked to be going so well for Nancy Grace on Dancing With The Stars last night, with her quickstep getting a good review from head judge Len Goodman.

But the legal broadcaster suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction when her dress slipped down mid way through the energetic dance revealing a little too much of her chest area.

The star was being dipped by partner Tristan MacManus, when the first mishap occurred, leading to ABC to cut away to an audience shot.

On the European version that would be perfectly fine,' joked host Tom Bergeron, while judge Bruno Tonioli told Nancy that her performance was 'a bit top heavy at times.'

Unfortunately, her clingy brown dress then slipped down again, as she and Tristan waited for the judges verdict.

However, the 51-year-old later denied there had been a costume slip.

'Tonight, when we were doing our hopscotch portion of our dance, there was a little bit of movement but it did not rise to a wardrobe malfunction,' she told Us Weekly after the show.
We have taken every precaution known to men in this dress right here,' Nancy added.

'I'm talking industrial size precaution. There may have been, as Tristan said, a little bit of jiggling but there was absolutely not a wardrobe malfunction.'

However, the star did get an impressive score of eight for her dance from Len Goodman who said her performance was a 'breath of fresh air.'






Experts speculate that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie could still launch a presidential run - despite a series of apparent denials.

Vaguely answering a supporter who pleaded with him to enter the race at an event in Simi Valley, California, last night he said, ' I thank you for what you're saying, and I take it in and I'm listening to every word of it and feeling it too.'

Critics say that is not a direct no and he could still launch a dramatic last minute bid for the White House.
Speaking before a crowd of 1,000, including former First Lady Nancy Reagan, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, a supporter pleaded with the impassioned governor to battle for the Republican nomination.

'Don't even say anything tonight, go home and think about it. Do it for my daughter, do it for our grandchildren, do it for our sons, please sir: we need you. Your country needs you as president,' the supporter cried out from the crowd.

Christie didn't say no, but pointed listeners to a video clip on Politico.com which had pieced together a long string of video clips of him saying he's not a candidate for the White House.

'Those are the answers,' he told the crowd.
Nonetheless, the speech - delivered at a shrine to America's 40th president - was likely to stoke fresh speculation about his presidential ambitions.

'I hear exactly what you are saying and I feel the passion with which you say it,' Christie added.

'And so my answer to you is just this: I thank you for what you're saying, and I take it in and I'm listening to every word of it and feeling it too,' he said.

The Republican governor warned that the nation's credibility abroad was being damaged by troubles at home. He charged that an indecisive White House has deepened the nation's economic pain, and he accused President Obama of preparing to divide the country to win re-election next year.
Christie didn't spare Congress: In a scathing indictment of Beltway politics, he said the failure to compromise, along with Obama's lack of leadership, had set the country dangerously off course.

In Washington 'we drift from conflict to conflict, with little or no resolution. We watch a president who once talked about the courage of his convictions, but still has yet found the courage to lead,' Christie said.

'We watch a Congress at war with itself because they are unwilling to leave campaign-style politics at the Capitol's door. The result is a debt-ceiling limitation debate that made our democracy appear as if we could no longer effectively govern ourselves,' he said.

Christie's appearance came during a three-day national trip in which the governor is raising money for Republicans and networking with party rainmakers.

With a reputation as a blunt-talking budget-cutter, the Reagan stage gave Christie the opportunity to extend his influence in a party that views him as a rising star. His remarks could stoke a fresh round of speculation about his White House ambitions, but his brother was the latest confidante to tamp down talk of a presidential bid.
'I'm sure that he's not going to run,' Todd Christie told The Star-Ledger of Newark, New Jersey. The newspaper also reported that the governor told wealthy donors earlier on Tuesday in Santa Ana that he was not entering the race, echoing his previous statements.

Christie, the first Republican elected New Jersey governor since 1997, repeatedly contrasted Reagan's leadership skills with the dysfunction in Washington. Obama has positioned himself as a compromiser and deal-maker, but Christie cited his work in Trenton as the successful model, saying 'leadership and compromise is the only way you reform New Jersey's pension and health benefits system.'

He mocked Obama as 'a bystander in the Oval Office' who was preparing to divide the nation along economic lines to win another four years in Washington, apparently alluding to the president's jobs bill, which proposes that wealthy Americans and big corporations pay more in taxes.

Obama is 'telling those who are scared and struggling that the only way their lives can get better is to diminish the success of others,' Christie said. He's 'insisting that we must tax and take and demonize those who have already achieved the American Dream.'
After the speech, Christie was asked repeatedly during a question-and-answer session if he would reconsider a presidential run. He declined, as he has many times before.

The deadline for registering for the Florida primary is October 31.

Meanwhile, the age-old question of 'Will Sarah run?' may be answered within the next few days as the chief of Sarah Palin's political action committee told The New York Times that she is ‘on the verge’ of a decision.

Palin appears to be waiting for the last minute, as several state deadlines loom between mid-October and early November for the Republican Party to submit their candidates.

With the clock ticking, Mrs Palin’s aides tell The Times that they are ready to move quickly if she decides to run.