The UK prime minister risks “damaging Europe” with his anti-immigration stance, according to some of Britain’s key allies, leaving his looking increasingly isolated in attempts to restrict free movement in the EU.
Ministers and officials from several big EU powers told the Financial Times that they would resist David Cameron’s attempts to restrict the ability of citizens from new member states to travel freely across the union.
Germany looks set to become the most powerful opponent of Mr Cameron’s plans. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the new German foreign minister, has accused the UK prime minister of posing a threat to German interests with his push to reform the principle of free movement.