Cheeky Girl singer Monica Irimia on Romanian immigrants

8 March 2013 Last updated at 07:50 ET Help

British newspapers have portrayed her fellow Romanians as "lazy workshy people" the Cheeky Girl singer Monica Irimia said in her This Week film on immigration.

She thinks the UK benefits system made it "too easy for some" and the government should do more to encourage people to work.

But the singer said the blame should not be put on immigrants legally claiming what they are entitled to, as she recalled how her record company went under and how she could have lived off benefits in Britain.

She said the prime minister could freeze benefits, but he must not close the door on immigration from the EU. Restrictions stopping Bulgarians and Romanians working in UK are set to be lifted next year.

UK viewers will have 12 months to watch the full programme on iPlayer

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