Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (L) And Finland's Prime Minister Alexander Stubb
Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (L) greets Finland's Prime Minister Alexander Stubb as he arrives at Number 10 Downing Street in London October 8, 2014. Reuters/Luke MacGregor

Amidst the rising tempo of anti-EU sentiments in Britain, outgoing European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has cautioned the U.K. over hasty steps to ban migrants from other EU states. He warned such policies would only lead to a choice whether to "stay or leave the European Union."

At the same time, Barroso said Britain's desire to leave EU would be "a historic mistake." He was speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics show. Making the EU stand clear, Barroso said all European partners want Britain to remain in the bloc, even though "there are red lines", reported Britain Times.

Cameron Hits Back

Barrosos's comments came in response to British Prime Minister David Cameron's Op Ed piece in a leading paper saying the U.K. will put immigration "right at the heart of our negotiations with the European Union." Later, Cameron responded to Barroso's statement saying his sole "boss" was the British people and that "what they need is a renegotiation of the relationship with the European Union and a referendum to decide whether to stay in this reformed organisation or leave it?'"

Cameron's statements were also a reflection of his present political compulsions, and a feeling that he is in a shaky turf after the recent wins by the EU-sceptic opposition party UKIP. For quite some time, the British premier has been mulling a Britain First policy and the need for turning the back on new EU immigrants -- mostly from eastern Europe and blocking them from entering Britain's workforce. Cameron has made it clear to EU that the centrepiece of U.K.'s wish to stay in the federation will depend on how far it can respect Britain's stand on immigration and the ability of Brussels to accommodate that.

Brussels is equally adamant. It has a counter proposition that it will not interfere in the autonomy of member states in matters like welfare or social security incentives, but, any effort to shut the door and block the movement of any group of EU migrants will not be tolerated and would treat such actions as violation of European agreements.

Against Equality

Telesur TV also reported the anguish of the European Commission against any anti-EU immigration steps by U.K or others under the garb of laws to check freedom of movement of a section of the EU countries. The European Commission will see those efforts as bid to create "first and second class citizens" within the union.

Jose Manuel Barroso reiterated that the free movement of people within the EU was a central principle of the bloc and it is not negotiable as it amounts to breaching the tenets of equality.