A Bradford community leader has welcomed calls by the Prime Minister to make immigrants face tougher curbs on unemployment benefits, housing waiting lists and access to the health service, under a crackdown unveiled by David Cameron yesterday.

The Prime Minister used a keynote speech to warn those coming to Britain that they can no longer expect “something for nothing”.

From next year, arrivals from the European Union will be stripped of jobseeker’s benefits after six months unless they can prove they have been actively looking for a job and stand a “genuine chance” of finding one.

Rashid Awan, president of Bradford’s Pakistan Society, said he thought leaders “should be looking after the interests of the country”.

“With the present economic climate here and elsewhere I think this does make sense to me,” he said.

“If anyone is coming to this country, he or she should have a job to go to or study,” he said. “Students coming here should have their financial backing in place. In my view it does make sense.

“Maybe some people will be affected by this, but I think this policy has to be observed. To bring back the economic situation of this country to normality, these small steps are necessary.

“I am not here to say people who are here genuinely should be penalised, but I think these people coming here genuinely are taken care of. We are in a very acute economic situation and we need to make sure no abuse is created as far as benefits are concerned.”

The Government is pledging to beef up the “range and depth” of questions in the habitual residence test, which checks that people meet residence requirements for housing and income-related benefits.

Mr Cameron will also target illegal immigration – doubling the maximum fine for companies that employ illegal workers to £20,000 – and signal action against so-called “health tourism” that could mean non-EU nationals have to prove they hold insurance before getting care.

He also confirmed a move to keep immigrants off council house waiting lists for up to five years.

Statutory guidance will be issued obliging local authorities to introduce minimum residency times for joining lists – or justify why they are not.

Keighley Kris Hopkins (Con) said the moves were “positive steps.”

He said: “This country can no longer be regarded as a haven for foreign nationals to come to claim benefits, get a council house at taxpayers’ expense and access free healthcare treatment without giving anything back in return. Those migrants who are able to contribute to the prosperity of our nation will continue to be welcome; those who cannot will find the UK a much less-attractive prospect.”

Respect Bradford West MP, George Galloway, said: “Sixty-three per cent of the population of Bradford West is Asian, either non-white or from an immigrant background. It’s not immigrants who have caused the double-dip, going on treble-dip recession in this country, it’s this Government and their failed economic policies.

“This is just another nasty attempt to blame others for their manifold failings.

“All the statistics show that immigrants claim considerably less benefits than UK nationals.”

“And these so-called criteria are a nonsense.”

Adam Clark, from homeless charity Hope Housing, said that he could see both sides of the argument.