Is it time to put more restrictions on the right of European citizens to work in Britain?

Is Boris Prime Minister material?

What is Boris Johnson's biggest achievement so far?

Are you satisfied with Ken Clarke's performance?

These and other questions feature in the latest ConservativeHome survey of grassroots and reader opinion.

Click here to have your say.

Comments

[TomTom]

Is it time to put more restrictions on the right of European citizens to work in Britain?

Right after withdrawal from the EU but so long as Britain is a member it CANNOT. The ECJ would simply overrule anything incompatible with treaty obligations. Blair specifically rejected transition measures when available and they cannot be imposed ex-post.

[Norm Brainer]

"When jobs are scarce, why should skilled Brits stand idle while hundreds of Italians are imported?"

That's not an agree/disagree question?

[Edward Huxley]

Boris as P.M. I don`t think so, but I`m pleased he defeated Livingstone and became Mayor. Certainly livened things up.

K.Clarke. As I have stated elsewhere, don`t think much of him.

Restriction on people who come to work here. As Tom Tom said, as long as we remain in the EU we have no control over this, so arguing about it is a waste of time.

[Jay]

Boris Johnson's greatest achievement so far? I don't think there is one. He hasn't really done anything except cancel a whole raft of transport initiatives (new bicycle lanes, tramlink extension, streetscene investment) while keeping the bloated bureaucracy that he inherited. The opposite of what Londoners were looking for.

[Sally Roberts]

It will be interesting to see what people now think of the performance of the Shadow Cabinet members as it is the first survey conducted since the reshuffle!

[Malcolm Johnstone]

Is it time to put more restrictions on the right of European citizens to work in Britain?

No, it is a two way street.

Just see what applicants you get if you put a vacancy in the jobcenter. Sort out the benefit and education systems before going down this route.

[RichardJ]

Would be interesting to have some questions that tell us more about the people answering the polls - occupation, where in the country they live etc.

[marian]

Boris Johnson's greatest achievement so far?

Putting a picture of the queen in a visible place, unlike that nasty Red Ken.

Killing "the Londoner" that foul commie rag was being paid for from taxation.

Boris as P.M.?

Not today, but given a further ten years or so to mature and temper his steel, and I really think he is in with a chance. Boris always makes me feel good about being a Conservative.

Is it time to put more restrictions on the right of European citizens to work in Britain?

No, we would have to change the law first.
Personally I would like to see work permits for all outsiders regardless of nationality.When things are good it can be relaxed when bad it can be tightened up. In the meantime this issue is the cost of being in the E.U. the British public should be given a say on Lisbon.

[Iain]

"Is it time to put more restrictions on the right of European citizens to work in Britain?"

That depends on whether people want a British state or not.

[Robert Eve]

Yes Boris is PM material but he should wait in line after Dan Hannan.

[George Lees]

A nice idea but we no longer have the skills here to build the nuclear power stations and the other infrastructure we desperatly need. We should concentrate on making our own people litterate and skilled first, then on recovering our bombed out manufacturing base. The Labour party have let down the white working class, perhaps teh Tories should give them some help.

[Angelo Basu]

It would be possible to take legislative action that was clearly and intentionally counter to the EU Treaty. Doing so would expose HMG to legal action by the Commission and by individuals and businesses harmed by the action.

In practice it would precipitate exit from the EU (or might even constitute UDI - to exclude review by UK courts it would be necessary to repeal the European Communities Act and it might also be necessary to repeal other less controversial legislation such as that allowing for enforcement of foreign judgments) but not in a negotiated way. While exit might well be a good idea, leaving on terms which gave the remaining 26 MSs carte blanche to take protectionist measures against the UK would be far more harmful than staying in.

[DJT]

Boris' greatest achievment so far is simply this....

He's delivering on all the things he promised before the election!

After years of new Labour ignoring their manifesto all i can say is thank god for Boris! He increased turnout and he is doing what he said he would.

Whatever you think about the man...I think we should all respect that fact!

[pp]

TomTom - You are wrong we can do what we like.

The ECJ said that innocent people must be removed from the DNA database - what has happened? Nothing...

We can't be part of the EU as it is - either it changes or we should leave - but putting up false arguments to leave gives the impression that there aren't any genuine ones!

George - absolutely, today we need to lay the new foundations for tomorrow - a nation of dynamic, educated, flexible, skilled, happy people. This needs to be done in parallel with managing the wreck that is our today...

[JoeF]

The "British jobs for British workers" thing is incredibly stupid- about 3 times more Britons work in EU under the contracting rules than foreigners work here- so yes Italians should be taking tose jobs, because 3x more Brits are taking similar jobs in EU! Like other types of protectionism, sounds good but in reality you cut your own throat.

Boris best thing so far- standing up for the City- in past and in future best part of UK economy- when it is having a hard time and almost all other politicians are forming a lynch mob (Chairman of Treasury select cmmt actually said some banks should be nationalized! This made several 100 million pounds for shorts, lost everyone else lots of money)

[marian]

Could we look at removing the restrictions that stop claimants from doing full time college courses. After all we should be encouraging people to get new skills not enforcing idleness. It's exactly this type of short sighted policies that trap people on JSA.

[Tanuki]

The London-centric focus of the questions this time round was quite offputting.

Can we perhaps look forward to London's commentariat and media-ocracy demonstrating the same amount of interest in the future careers of those elected to serve on Wrinkley Bottom Parish Council?

[Sally Roberts]

Boris's Achievements:

Getting rid of the Western Extension to the C-Charge;
Getting rid of Sir Ian Blair;
Banning alcohol on the tube;
Promising a "living wage" not a minimum wage for London's workers;
Getting rid of the wasteful piece of pap, "The Londoner"

Quite a list and I am sure I have left a great deal out!

[Iain]

" about 3 times more Britons work in EU under the contracting rules than foreigners work here "

And under non contracting rules?

[Leo Enticknap]

The 'British jobs for British workers' issue could be resolved by the simple expedient of revising the Posted Workers' Directive so that it clearly and unambiguously bans a contractor from importing a workforce wholesale in cases where suitably qualified labour is readily available locally. The principle of freedom of labour movement within the EU was intended to allow individuals to treat the entire Eurozone as their own country for employment purposes, not to enable large companies to move hundreds of low-skilled workers temporarily and en bloc. But I'd speculate that Brown and his toadies are laying the groundwork for cushy Euro-nonjobs à la Kinnock after their imminent General Election spanking, and so they don't want to cause any trouble with their future bosses along those lines.

Johnson can only be PM material if he is able to bury the buffoon persona totally. I get the impression that he's used it as a strategic smokescreen quite effectively in the past. But being in office is a different kettle of fish from opposition. The episode with his jacket in Beijing and more recently trying to laugh off last week's public transport fiasco in London did not give me confidence and, if repeated in the run-up to an election, would present Labour with an undefended goal.

Same problem with Ken Clarke. The back benches is the place for mavericks, not the Shadow Cabinet; and Clarke's recent public contradiction of Cameron proves that he hasn't managed to bury his maverick instincts. His consultancy and lobbying for the tobacco industry is likely to be used against him ruthlessly come election time, too.

[Tim Montgomerie]

Sorry Tanuki. The amount of Boris questions were exceptional but I think it is valuable to assess the standing of the most senior elected Conservative in Britain at this time. The survey will return to a national focus next time.

[Shane]

Leo @11:13
I don't think he has to totally bury his, as you put it, buffoon persona - he has to be taken seriously yes but becoming like another politician isn't why people warm to him. He’s different and must maintain that difference, its part of his appeal.

His 'seriousness' will come once he's fully proven himself at City Hall, hopefully over 2 terms. Then I think the public will see him in a different light - that is someone who can be distinctive and be seen as a contender for the job of prime minister.

I’m sure he’ll be one of the favourites to replace David Cameron when the time comes, barring anything disastrous happening between now and then.

[Ross Warren]

" His consultancy and lobbying for the tobacco industry is likely to be used against him ruthlessly come election time, too."

I not so certain that it will be so damaging.
Most working people are sick to death of labours PC whining. Their refusal to compromise over public bars, as an example really didn't go down well. The fact is Labours support is hemorrhaging within the all important Urban working class. Exactly the people who have been most angered by the destruction of their pub culturem, and the endless PC nagging of this oppressive Stalinist Government. I am reluctant to use the pendulum metaphor, but in this case it fits the political mood very well indeed, the swing is towards freedom and less state interference.

"Johnson can only be PM material if he is able to bury the buffoon persona totally."

Then he would no longer be Boris.

"Euro-nonjobs à la Kinnock after their imminent General Election spanking"

As long as they are able to milk the system they will I imagine. Is it any wonder that politicians are now respected about as much as estate agents and Traffic Wardens.

[Leo Enticknap]

"I not so certain that it will be so damaging. Most working people are sick to death of labours PC whining."

I'd agree unreservedly if he was simply sticking up for the right to smoke. But by actually promoting and lobbying for the tobacco industry (which supports very few jobs in Britain and, let's face it, has a pretty terrible public image, encompassing everything from exploiting Third World workers to attempting to bury unwelcome medical research), he is certainly giving Labour mud to fling, and with that comes at least a risk that some of it will stick.

The way to turn the smoking issue against Labour is for the Tories to promise to repeal the pub ban (as an election winner, that would be second only to privatising the BBC and abolishing the licence fee, IMHO). The majority (including non-smokers such as myself) oppose the outright ban, which has not reduced levels of smoking, because people are just doing it at home instead. Pointing out Labour's moral cowardice on this issue wouldn't do any harm, either: they can't bring themselves to simply ban smoking, as they would lose billions in tobacco duty. So they try to have their cake (the duty) and eat it (be seen to be promoting public health) through contradictory measures such as the pub ban.

[James Maskell]

Working my way through the survey I found some of the statements in the jobs dispute to be awkwardly worded. I was in a minority of opinion on this site (of course not very unusual). I also struggled with the Boris questions asI live well away from London. I think it is fair to say Boris will not be a candidate for Premiership of this country.

[Mark Fulford]

The first set of questions are daft.

"When jobs are scarce, why should skilled Brits stand idle while hundreds of Italians are imported?"

With a "why" in the question, how can the answer be Yes / No?

"British jobs for British workers will only be a possibility when Britain is ruled by Britons again."

First, was Farage advocating protectionism? Second, his suggestion that Britain is not ruled by Britons is absurd. It's like arguing that a marriage destroys individuals.

[Iain]

"Second, his suggestion that Britain is not ruled by Britons is absurd"

Oh so the 70% of legislation coming from Europe is a myth, and we can initiate a policy of British jobs for British people tomorow can we?

"was Farage advocating protectionism?"

Don't think so, protectionism is where you exclude other countries products, he wasn't suggesting that. His call was to have some control over our borders, that isn't protectionism, that's just being a nation.

[JS]

Boris Johnson's greatest achievement was getting rid of Ken Livingstone.

[Peter]

There is nothing inherently wrong with a degree of protectionism - indeed much of the economic chaos we are experiencing is due to a careless wiping away established national protections of one sort or another (not least in the way banking is done).

[Mark Fulford]

Oh so the 70% of legislation coming from Europe is a myth, and we can initiate a policy of British jobs for British people tomorow can we?

Yup, it was Europe that took us to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yup, it was Europe who decides how our schools, hospitals, libraries, swimming pools, armed forces, police, prisons and legal system are run. Yup, it was Europe who says what power stations, roads and airports we build. Your 70% is as laughable as that old joke "my husband makes the big decisions: which way we vote and which football team we support... I make the little decisions: what we have for dinner, where we live and where the kids go to school."

You obviously didn’t understand my marriage analogy. Marriage modifies our behaviour; the EU modifies our behaviour. Both agreements are entered voluntarily and complaining that the EU is our ruler is as meaningful as suggesting that your wife is yours. If you decide you're BOO, both agreements can be annulled but, sensibly, not overnight.

If the nation really gets fed up with the EU, it will elect a party that advocates EU withdrawal. The last time that option was put to the nation, that party got 2% of the vote.

protectionism is where you exclude other countries products

For example preventing Italian contractors (using Italian workers) from providing us with their services.

Free movement of people is one of our guarantees of liberty. Contrast it with China if you want to know which you prefer. Personally, I sleep much easier knowing that if the UK goes tits up for me, I can easily go anywhere else in Europe and work there, tomorrow.

[Tommy]

"Yup, it was Europe who decides how our schools, hospitals, libraries, swimming pools, armed forces, police, prisons and legal system are run. Yup, it was Europe who says what power stations, roads and airports we build."

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[Tommy]

"Free movement of people is one of our guarantees of liberty. Contrast it with China if you want to know which you prefer."

I would prefer to compare it with canada or australia or japan etc.

"If the nation really gets fed up with the EU, it will elect a party that advocates EU withdrawal. The last time that option was put to the nation, that party got 2% of the vote."

Most people don't consider it a major issue, even headbanging eurosceptics wouldn't cast their vote soley on european politics.

A better idea would be to have a referendum, and the evidence would suggest that we would vote to leave.

[pp]

Not being a londoner anymore I don't care much about boris - however I do dislike the BBC keeping Ken in the public eye on all matters mayoral - I think the lib-dems should complain, their bloke will be the only unknown come the next election...

Same with blunkett popping up on the BBC all the time.. I'd rather hear from a random person, than someone who is definitely discredited.

[Iain]

"Yup, it was Europe who decides how our schools, hospitals, libraries, swimming pools, "

Well that's relief there I was thinking we had lost our sovereignty on things that matter and you tell us that the EU in its benelovance allows us to decide on swimming pool matters. I'll sleep a lot easier knowing that.

[Mark Fulford]

Tommy, since when do we have referendums on issues that most people don't consider major?

As to laughing or crying, laugh, Tommy, definitely laugh. What else can Eurosceptics do to defend the more ridiculous of their arguments.?

[David from Ealing]

One of the worst things Boris has done is to approve the Arcadia development in Ealing - despite saying before that he was against high-rise development. This monstrosity will give the centre of Ealing 7 towers of 26, 12, 11, 11, 8, 8 and 7 storeys, mainly residential development. It's a pity that the Conservative-controlled council approved the development despite the opposition of thousands of local people and the Conservative councillors for the area.

[Marian]

I thought I heard him say something about ending concessionary bus fares for those on income support but I may have got it wrong.

[Jack Stone]

Its a nonsense question because any attempt to restrict the rights of European workers to come here would be illegal.
I wonder if you would advocate restrictions on British workers going to Europe to work. I doubt it!
All this nonsense is just racism dressed up as concern for the unemployed.

[Leo Enticknap]

"If the nation really gets fed up with the EU, it will elect a party that advocates EU withdrawal. The last time that option was put to the nation, that party got 2% of the vote."

Firstly, people vote in elections (as distinct from referenda) on the basis of a package of policies offered by a party in its manifesto, even if they don't support all of them. When you get a policy that has significant public support but which none of the major parties offer to implement, that is IMO a failure of our political system. Withdrawal from the EU is one such example; the reintroduction of capital punishment for murder is another. I unequivocally support the latter and am erring towards the former as well, but would be very reluctant to waste my vote on UKIP (or even a Stringemup Party), however strongly I felt about the issue, because they don't have any credible policies for any of the other things a government is supposed to look after.

And if that wasn't enough to keep single issue parties out of serious contention, the FPTP electoral system is another. The Lib Dems mieow and hiss about it, but one of its strengths is to ensure that dangerous extremists never get anywhere near the Palace of Westminster, i.e. that we don't end up with someone like Le Pen being a significant political figure or even a powerbroker. However, the use of PR in Euro elections and the typically low turnout in council elections (plus the fact that they are often fought more on local issues) enables the single issue parties to get just enough publicity and income to keep them in business as de facto pressure groups.

The downside to all of this is that no major policy, however much support is has among the population, will ever be implemented unless either the Conservatives or Labour adopt it (and/or agree to it, in the event of being forced into a coalition with the Lib Dems). Some would argue that this is a relatively small price to pay for the safeguards our electoral system offers. But the list of 'ignored' issues by the mainstream political class seems to be getting longer and longer, and it's increasingly worrying me.

[Tommy]

"Tommy, since when do we have referendums on issues that most people don't consider major?"

Umm...we had one in the 70s, we also had referendums on english regional devolution, we were promised one on the european constitution before it was rejected in other countries and all of these were considered pretty minor by the voter.

So I suppose the answer would be, since always.

The point I was trying to make is that the only way to solve constitutional problems, like eu membership, or devolution, or the future of the house of lords, we need to hold referendums so that the people can express their view on how they wish to be governed.

This is not new, just as Northern Ireland was asked to vote on whether it wanted to be part of the UK or RoI and 20 years later whether it supported the good friday agreement, just as scotland and wales were asked to vote on devolution and then asked again 20 years later, so too should we be asked whether we want to be part of the european union...20 years later, our referendum is overdue.

The reason we have not had a referendum is because it would be lost. If there were any real chance of the british people voting to stay, don't you think labour would have held one? It would certainly have ripped the conservative party apart and more than likely cost us the next election.

[Tommy]

"I wonder if you would advocate restrictions on British workers going to Europe to work."

Wouldn't that be the decision of the countries that it affects?

"All this nonsense is just racism dressed up as concern for the unemployed."

The last time I checked, the majority of italians were white.

[snegchui]

Jack Stone:
Why don't you go to Stratford City and have a look for a day, and then come back and tell us what is racism and concern for the employed?Why the purge of workers without visas before New Year? Why only 0.5% of security guards found to be illegal are actually expelled?
It is not racist, what it is is a damning indictment of this Govt to manage anything and then attempt to externalise its failures on to any non-central agency it can.
"It was not us, it was them what did did not follow our careful and considered guidance." "We are New Labour, we do not command, we market research and issue guidelines. The decision is yours (even if we are Januses) and the outcomes are nothing to do with us if it inn't good, - if it should be good we are the leading lights of a new multicultural Britain, innit? Cooooool "
Up your hole with a splinty stick.

[Mark Fulford]

The reason we have not had a referendum is because it would be lost.

I don't think the polling data backs your opinion but, either way, I would be very happy to see a referendum on continued membership of the EU. It's not going to happen though. With none of the three main parties advocating withdrawal, it's hard to see a) why any of them would take the political risk of arranging one and b) who would mount an adequate BOO case. UKIP?

The editor has it right, "conservatives should always prefer reforming imperfect systems to building new systems." Our job should be to hold the EU to account, not to ditch it.

[Marian]

I still think Boris's most telling move was getting rid of that commie rag "The Londoner". He could have hijacked it and installed his own people, and turned it into a "cracking little read". Instead he got rid, and saved the hard pressed council tax payers millions. He showed that he was able to act in the intrest of the many, rather than for his own short term political advantage. Well done Boris that's one pinko paper down and less dross cluttering the streets and rubbish bins of the capital.

[Tommy]

"I don't think the polling data backs your opinion"

It all depends on your definition of 'withdrawel'. If you consider the use of article 49a of the lisbon treaty to be 'withdrawel' then opinion polls clear show a support for withdrawel.

[Patrick Harris]

It would seem, if recent reports are true, that jon protectionism is alive and legal in Gordon's country - Scotland, time to emigrate - to Scotland.
Even if the Tories get in at the next GE Scotland will still remain the land of the FREE, paid for by the English tax-payer.