We are concerned that proposals to restrict the freedom of movement of people in the EU are gaining traction in the UK ("Labour must take tougher line on 'mass migration' from Europe, Miliband told", (News).
Free movement is a right exercised by millions and has made a major contribution to the prosperity of Europe over the past 30 years. It is the key to Britain's continued economic recovery. Competition with Ukip for the anti-immigrant vote threatens to undermine support for Britain's continued membership of the EU.
What is needed is a more realistic approach to migration in the context of broader social change. Younger people, including young EU expats, enrich and sustain our economy as we age. Many Ukip voters have children and grandchildren who will benefit from the chance to study and work abroad. They should be careful what they wish for.
Movement of people will continue to ebb and flow as Europe emerges from recession. However, the migratory peaks of 2005 have been left far behind. We need to sharpen the public policy response to migration.
If Britain stays in the EU (and the opinion polls are moving that way), then free movement must be embraced. There is no prospect of restricting the right to free movement through treaty change.
Roger Casale Chair, New Europeans; Frances O'Grady General secretary, TUC;
Roland Rudd Chairman, Business for New Europe; Juliet Lodge Emeritus professor of European studies, University of Leeds;
Simon Hix Professor of European and comparative politics at the London School of Economics; Dr Julie Smith Director, European Centre at Polis, Cambridge University; Don Flynn Director, Migrant Rights Network; Dr Majella Kilkey Reader in social policy, University of Sheffield
The free movement of people within the EU is not immigration, any more than the free movement of people between the different countries of the UK is immigration. EU membership works both ways. The number of EU citizens in the UK (around 2.3 million) is largely comparable with the number of UK nationals who have themselves exercised their right to free movement to live and/or work elsewhere in Europe (2.2 million). If the UK decided to put in quotas, other EU member states would follow suit. This would cause real harm to these individuals.
Matthew Evans
Director, Advice on Individual Rights in Europe, London WC1
Congratulations on your excellent editorial, a stark contrast to the letter from seven Labour MPs with their crude stereotype that "the benefits of mass migration have been served in abundance to many wealthy people".
Instead of the Labour leadership's current broadly negative and apologetic approach to immigration, they should be leading with an alternative vision of Britain as a plural, multi-ethnic society.
We as a nation have relied on British ex-colonial citizens, immigrants and migrant workers to staff our hospitals, care homes, railways and hotels, to pick our fruit and to man our football teams and Olympic squad – and on overseas students to help support our universities through their fees and research skills.
Gideon Ben-Tovim
Senior fellow in sociology
University of Liverpool
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