European Union migrants add £20bn to the British economy - in just a decade The figures emerged after the Liberal Democrat minister Norman Baker resigned from Government, accusing his Conservative colleagues of failing to pursue "rational evidence-based policy." He also told The Independent that the Tories were "rather obsessed" with immigration and protested that the Liberal Democrats were treated as "a cuckoo in the nest" by the Home Secretary, Theresa May. David Cameron, who mocked Mr Baker yesterday over his resignation, has signalled his determination to tighten the rules on EU nationals" entitlement to work in this country and is due to set out his plans by the end of the year. But the analysis by University College London (UCL) suggests that new restrictions would cost the economy dear by deterring highly educated young Europeans from moving temporarily to Britain. Video: £20bn net gain from EU migrantion It found that EU migrants who arrived since 2000, including citizens from new member states such as Poland, had contributed more than £20bn between 2001 and 2011. Migrant workers from the EU15 countries, which include Germany and France, paid 64 per cent more in tax than they received in benefits. New arrivals from Central and Eastern European "accession" countries contributed 12 per cent more than they took out. Immigrants who arrived since 2000 were 43 per cent less likely than UK-born workers to receive state benefits or tax credits and 7 per cent less likely to live in social housing. The UCL's Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration found the EU migrant workers were strikingly better educated than British nationals and brought "human capital" equivalent to spending £6.8bn on education. Read more: Ten things that immigration has done for Britain Norman Baker has made a noise over leaving a largely symbolic role New problems at a notoriously difficult department Mr Baker was hit by a Conservative backlash yesterday after he coupled his dramatic resignation - exclusively revealed by The Independent - with a scathing attack on Ms May. Senior Tories reacted with a mixture of ridicule and anger over his move yesterday as tensions within the Coalition boiled over. Tory sources accused him of working only two days a week at the Home Office and of being more interested in spending time in his constituency and presenting a radio programme. Senior Liberal Democrats dismissed the claim as "nonsense" and insisted he had an impressive record of achievement in the department. Norman Baker arrives at Liberal Democrat headquarters following his resignation (PA) There was also anger in Downing Street that Mr Baker told The Independent of his resignation before informing Mr Cameron. The Prime Minister, campaigning yesterday in the Rochester by-election, said: "We'll cope without him." He said Ms May was "tough and robust, but that's why I think she is so good" and added: "Many ministers have worked with her very effectively knowing that she is a strong leader." George Osborne mocked the former minister as he referred to a book in which Mr Baker questioned the official account of the government scientist David Kelly's suicide in 2003. The Chancellor told MPs: "There's now a vacancy, because [Norman Baker] has resigned, for a conspiracy theorist at the Home Office." Damian Green, a Tory former Home Office minister, hit back at Mr Baker's claims that Ms May had refused to work collegiately with her Liberal Democrat minister. Accusing Mr Baker of focusing on his own agenda, he said: "He was a guitarist who was only interested in his own solos while the rest of the band was trying to play a close-harmony number." Lynne Featherstone replaces Norman Baker at the Home Office (Susannah Ireland) Mr Baker was unrepentant yesterday about his decision and predicted Coalition clashes would increase in the coming months. He said: "I think the Coalition relations are clearly going to be more difficult as we get nearer the election... I think the Coalition works very well. Unfortunately, there are one or two ministers - I am afraid that includes the Home Secretary - who take the view this is not a Coalition Government, but a Conservative Government with Lib Dems in it. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat president, said the Tories "behave like they won the last election," although he added that the Coalition continued to operate efficiently. Mr Baker was replaced as crime-prevention minister by Lynne Featherstone as Nick Clegg carried out a mini Liberal Democrat reshuffle. She was a junior Home Office minister between 2010 and 2012 before being switched to the Department for International Development (DfID).