DEFENCE Secretary Michael Fallon has been forced into a humiliating climbdown after he warned British communities were being "swamped" by immigration from the EU.
DEFENCE Secretary Michael Fallon has been forced into a humiliating climbdown after he warned British communities were being "swamped" by immigration from the EU.
The move came after Mr Fallon had dismissed German opposition to changing free movement rules within the union. He had said in a TV interview yesterday that some towns were "under siege".
But a Government source later said: "He accepts he should have chosen his words better. He should have said 'under pressure'."
Mr Fallon had appeared to signal an escalation in Tory rhetoric on the issue, under pressure from Ukip and ahead of the crucial Rochester & Strood by-election.
David Cameron has pledged to make clawing back control over immigration a "red line" in renegotiating UK membership terms.
But the Prime Minister's prospects of success have suffered a blow after German chancellor Angela Merkel flatly rejected the prospect of radical change. "Germany will not tamper with the fundamental principles of free movement in the EU," she told a newspaper.
Tensions with Europe were also heightened by a shock demand to contribute an extra £1.7 billion into the Brussels budget last week.
Mr Fallon told Sky News: "The Germans haven't seen our proposal yet, and we haven't seen our proposal yet. That is still being worked on at the moment, to see what we can do to prevent whole towns and communities being swamped by huge numbers of migrant workers.
"In some areas, particularly on the east coast, yes, towns do feel under siege from large numbers of migrant workers and people claiming benefits. It is quite right that we look at that.
"The original treaty when it was drawn up 50 years ago did not envisage these vast movements of people, and we are perfectly entitled to say this needs to be looked at again."
Asked if the current position of EU citizens being free to live and work in Britain was non-negotiable, Mr Fallon replied: "We are looking at changing that to make sure there is some control."
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