The problem stems from EU labour laws - these give the right to freedom of movement, and jobs, throughout the EU for all EU citizens. Not a problem in times of plenty but I think Brussels will find it's chickens coming home to roost during a recession. The French were taking to the streets to protest about unemployment before the wildcat strikes over here, and predictably these demonstrations will spread throughout the EU. Of course, there were few if any protests in the UK over the recent E.European invasion of Poles and Lithuanians, as they do the lower paid, mainly agricultural jobs that most Brit workers did not want to touch. The problem in Lincolnshire is that the Italians and Portuguese have been brought in to do skilled, high-paid jobs that the unemployed in the local populace are capable of doing and want to do. However, any attempt to ban EU workers from British jobs is illegal and just will not happen, so I hope Brown and his mates have got a real solution rather than just mealy-mouthed phrases about British jobs for British workers.