Conservatives would introduce an annual immigration cap

Davis blames incidents such as Morcombe Bay on poor immigration regulation.

Tuesday, 02, Oct 2007 12:00

The Conservatives today announced they would impose an annual cap on immigration.

Shadow home secretary David Davis stopped short at setting precise limits, but said it would be "substantially lower" than the 200,000 figure for net immigration announced by the government last week.

Mr Davis said Labour had "totally failed" on immigration and had not thought through the consequences of "open door Britain".

In contrast, a Conservative government would impose stricter immigration controls to ensure only the right people – and the right number of people – could come to the UK.

Speaking at the Conservative party conference, Mr Davis was keen to stress his party's "compassionate conservatism". He described the Morcombe Bay cockle-pickers and women trafficked for sex work as victims of a failed immigration policy.

But he also struck a traditional note, warning of the impact on services in Britain.

He said the government had underestimated the number of new immigrants following EU expansion, with the prediction 13,000 rising to 700,000.

"How can housing, schools and communities cope, when the numbers are so huge?" he asked delegates in Blackpool.

The shadow home secretary also reiterated Tory calls for new border patrols, although he insisted these would be different to the prime minister's border service.

Mr Davis said: "When Gordon Brown talks about a border service, he's left out on rather key element – the police."

The Conservatives want to create one body with powers to stop, search, detain and prosecute, as well as gathering intelligence and seizing illegal goods.

Mr Davis also warned Mr Brown the Conservatives will oppose any attempt to extend the period for detention without charge to 90 days.

"We stand for a hard-nosed defence of freedom," he told the conference.

He continued: "You cannot defend our way of life by sacrificing our way of life.

"And you don't defeat terrorism, you surrender to it, when you abandon the freedoms they despise but we hold dear."

Mr Davis' statement on terrorism was introduced by a video interview with Arthur Burton-Garbett, the 72-year-old who chased a suicide bomber through Oval tube station.

Last week saw Gordon Brown joined in the conference hall by John Smeaton, the Glasgow baggage handler who tackled a suspected terrorist.