Britain shrugs off German concerns over plans to curb EU migration British's Prime Minister David Cameron is insisting he will pursue migrant curbs within the European Union regardless of German anxiety. The issue" follows an online Spiegel article which said if Britain interfered with EU freedom of movement Chancellor Merkel would drop her support for UK membership of the bloc. German Chancellor's spokesman Steffen Seibert confirmed what had been said in the article: The valuable asset of freedom of movement within the European Union is for Germany not negotiable. That's what the Chancellor (Angela Merkel) said. She also said that there is a strong interest in sharing the fight against possible abuse. However London is insisting the British people want concerns about EU immigration along with access to benefits addressed. British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne: What you need to know about David Cameron and the Conservatives is that we will fight for Britain's interests. We will make sure that Britain gets a fair deal in Europe and we will make sure that the British people have a final say in a referendum. The ruling Conservatives are under pressure from anti-EU party UKIP. UK Independence Party It means suddenly the town of Rochester is on the political frontline with its forthcoming by-election following the defection of its Tory MP to UKIP. A local shopkeeper spoke for many in Rochester which is a town in the south of England: I've got no issue at all with the immigrants coming in, but I do understand people's frustrations, people that come in and don't want to work and want to claim benefits. The Conservatives have vowed to renegotiate Britain's EU ties before holding a membership referendum in 2017 should they be re-elected in the next general election in May 2015.