Newly released files reveal that senior ministers, including Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, urged then-Prime Minister Tony Blair to delay employment rights for eastern and central European workers following the EU expansion in 2004. Concerns were raised about the potential impact on social housing and overcrowding, while others argued for the economic benefits of new workers. The government implemented a workers registration scheme, but it faced issues with accuracy and enforcement. Despite initial fears, the number of Polish nationals in the UK increased significantly over the years. Teljes cikk (bbc.com europe)