The Controversial Decision: Blair's Struggle with EU Worker Influx in 2004

In the face of the EU’s expansion in 2004, Prime Minister Tony Blair faced pressure from senior ministers regarding the rapid influx of eastern and central European workers, particularly from Poland. Newly released files from the National Archives reveal that Foreign Secretary Jack Straw advocated for delaying the employment rights for these workers, pointing out that the UK was the only major EU country to grant immediate access to its job market.

Straw suggested a six-month postponement, citing concerns about a potential surge in immigration and the strain it could place on social housing. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott echoed these concerns, fearing that an influx of workers would lead to overcrowded conditions, especially in London and the South East.

Conversely, Home Secretary David Blunkett emphasized the economic benefits of these new workers, arguing for the flexibility they could bring. Ultimately, Blair’s government implemented a workers registration scheme intended to manage the situation, requiring workers from newly joined EU states to register and pay a fee.

However, initial projections underestimated the number of incoming workers, with anticipated arrivals of only 13,000 per year vastly exceeded. By 2004, roughly 24,000 had already registered, many of whom were younger individuals not exploiting the benefits system. As registrations continued to rise, fears of overwhelming numbers persisted, only compounded by the inadequacies of the registration scheme itself which failed to capture a significant number of self-employed workers.

While initial fears looked to subside with a drop in registration applications, it became evident that numerous A8 nationals, mainly Poles, moved to the UK, leading to demographic shifts and raising questions about the government’s handling of the situation. In the following years, census data indicated a large Polish presence in Britain, with estimates showing over 740,000 Polish-born residents by 2021.