Tony Blair Overruled Cabinet Warnings on EU Migration Policy in 2004

Newly released archives reveal internal disputes within Blair's government over the decision to allow immediate freedom of movement for Eastern European workers after EU expansion.

In 2004, Tony Blair's government granted immediate work rights to citizens of eight Eastern European countries joining the EU, despite warnings from senior ministers Jack Straw and John Prescott about potential immigration surges.
Straw and Prescott advocated for a six-month delay to assess the impact, citing concerns about social housing pressures and public resistance, but were overruled by Blair and Home Secretary David Blunkett.
The Home Office had predicted an annual influx of 13,000 workers, but actual numbers far exceeded this estimate, with approximately 87,000 arrivals in the first year and 750,000 by 2007.
Critics argue the decision contributed to rising anti-EU sentiment and played a role in the eventual Brexit vote, as successive governments struggled to manage immigration levels.
While advocates of the policy highlighted economic benefits such as increased tax revenue and labor flexibility, the lack of transitional controls is now viewed by some, including Straw, as a critical misstep with lasting consequences.