British Prime Minister David Cameron’s office on Sunday played down reports that he was prepared to drop one of his key demands for reforming Britain’s relationship with the European Union after other countries made it clear they would not accept it.
Several British newspapers reported Mr Cameron would signal at a meeting of EU leaders this week he is willing to compromise on his plan to make EU migrant workers wait four years before they are allowed to claim some state benefits.
“This is simply not true,” a spokesperson said. She did, however, point out to a speech by the British leader in November in which he said he was open to different ways of dealing with the issue but they must deliver on the objective of controlling EU migration.
A climb down would boost the chances of Britain being able to reach a deal with other EU leaders but would likely lead to a row within Mr Cameron’s Conservative party, who made the benefits pledge a manifesto commitment ahead of May’s national election.
Earlier in December, European Council president Donald Tusk, who is running the renegotiation with Britain, said Mr Cameron’s pledge to cut immigration was the main stumbling block to reaching a deal.
Officials and diplomats see the proposals discriminating between EU citizens on national grounds, which they say jars with basic EU treaty law. Immigration is a top issue of voter concern in Britain.
