David Cameron's reported plans to introduce a tough new set of obstacles for immigrants from Bulgaria and Romania could put the UK on the wrong side of the rest of the European Union, a Lib Dem cabinet minister has warned.

The Lib Dem MP and Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael told BBC Radio 5 Live's Peinaar's Politics that he would "need to be persuaded" that this was the best way forward.

"I can understand the concern and I can see the need for robust transitional arrangements," he said.

But he warned: "Potentially it might put us on the wrong side of the rest of the European Union.

"As a member state I don't particularly want to find myself in that territory.

"It's something that we should be discussing with them, certainly."
But Education Secretary Michael Gove claimed the prime minister "struck exactly the right note on migration".

Gove was asked on BBC1's Andrew Marr show about reports, which said the PM was "preparing for a showdown" with the EU over the issue.

The education secretary replied: "I absolutely agree with him and I do think it's practical politics."

Cameron had "struck exactly the right note on migration, which is to celebrate the achievements of the people who've come here, to recognise migration has to work for people who are already here - from whatever background", he said.

"But when it comes to new migrants from accession countries in the EU we need to look properly at the benefits system here to make sure that people are coming here to work and to contribute - not to take advantage of what is rightly a generous welfare state."

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