UK Edition
EU migrants barred from claiming benefits after Brexit as Theresa May revives David Cameron pledge
EU migrants will be barred from claiming in-work benefits unless they have been employed for at least four years after Brexit under plans to revive a pledge by David Cameron.
The Telegraph understands that ministers are examining plans to bar migrants who arrive in the UK after March 2019 from claiming in-work benefits.
Officials said that under the plans, to be published by the Home Office later this year, migrants could be barred from claiming benefits unless they have worked in the UK and "contributed" for four years.
Another more generous plan would enable migrants to claim in work-benefits if they had lived in the UK for four years, regardless of their employment status over that period.
Mr Cameron, the former Prime Minister, pledged to introduce a four-year emergency brake ahead of the EU referendum but was forced to water down his plans by Brussels.
It came as it emerged that EU tourists will be able to come to the UK without visas under the post-Brexit immigration system. They will be allowed to stay in the UK for a limited period but be barred from seeking work.
It came as Theresa May yesterday said that Britain will welcome EU migrants who want to visit and work in the UK after Brexit.
She said: "We will have immigration rules and those will be for people coming from inside the European Union as today we have rules for people coming from outside the European Union.
"What's important is that we're developing those with a recognition of the importance of ensuring we can still welcome people from European Union countries to work and to visit the United Kingdom in future and ensuring we do that in the best and fairest way possible."
It came as new figures revealed that the UK has a £52.8billion trade deficit with the EU, highlighting the importance of Britain as an export market.
The figures show that the UK imports significantly more than it exports to the EU. The deficit is likely to be used as leverage by British Brexit negotiators.
The figures also showed that the UK sold more to the rest of the World than the EU, highlighting the potential for future trade deals after Britain leaves the European Union.