By Daniel Martin UPDATED: 04:43 EST, 1 October 2011 An alliance of European countries is rebelling against EU plans to make Britain open its doors to thousands of ‘benefit tourists’. Ministers have joined forces with 12 other nations – including France, Germany and Denmark – angry at the European Commission’s threat to take the UK to court over rules which limit foreigners’ ability to claim benefits. If the Commission gets its way, Britain could be hit with an extra £2.5billion in welfare payments, making it even harder to tackle our huge deficit. Present rules: Currently, the UK says EU immigrants must have worked here previously, or have a decent chance of getting a job, before they can claim benefits
@highlight
Alliance to rebel against EU plans to make Britain open its doors to 'benefits tourists'
@highlight
Britain could be hit with an extra £2.5billion in welfare payments
What we have ended up with is a mess and it is not a mess that simply faces the @placeholder – it is one that affects several other states.’