European migrants should not move to Britain unless they have a job lined up, George Osborne suggested. The Chancellor insisted that European Union freedom of movement rules were not created to allow people to live off the welfare state in other countries. But in an escalation of tensions between London and Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel today made clear that the general principle of freedom of movement in the EU is 'not negotiable'. Chancellor George Osborne today insisted that EU freedom of information rules did not envisage 'people coming who don't have job offers' or moving into a life on benefits
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New ideas emerge in rush to find a way to curb immigration from Europe
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George Osborne insists freedom of movement laws need to be revised
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Chancellor insists rules are not for people who do not have a job lined up
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Tories in Brussels want a ban on accessing benefits and tax credits
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Claims only be made after paying into tax system for up to three years
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel warns Britain could leave the EU
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Osborne to use Brussels meeting to lobby for cut in £1.7billion bill
@placeholder government source: 'Mrs Merkel feels she has done all she can to placate the UK, but will not accept immigration curbs from EU member states under any circumstances.