The political debate. Faced with this massive influx, which reignites the debate over the weight of immigration, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling, appears to not be ruling out modifying the rules for Bulgaria and Romania, due to join the European Union in January 2007. Unlike the eight newcomers of 2004 that benefited in Great Britain and in just two other countries, he could deny full working rights to nationals of Bulgaria and Romania. The government does not officially talk of imposing restrictions, but the Minister affirms that there will not be an open-door policy. The opposition is demanding quotas. It draws a parallel between the increase in the number of foreign workers and the recent rise in unemployment, as well as being uneasy about the added costs to public services. The 427,000 immigrants officially registered brought with them 36,000 spouses and children (27,000 requests for family housing have been granted). Supporters of this immigration say the new arrivals take jobs the British do not want, in fishing or agriculture, and possess those skills that British no longer have. It is not just the Polish plumber: The British economy also benefits from Hungarians in hotel and catering, Czech cooks, Estonian engineers, Slovakian scientists….
te over the weight of immigration, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling, appears to not be ruling out modifying the rules for Bulgaria and Romania, due to join the European Union in January 2007. Unlike the eight newcomers of 2004 that benefited in Great Britain and in just two other countries, he could deny full working rights to nationals of Bulgaria and Romania. The government does not officially talk of imposing restrictions, but the Minister affirms that there w
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