Immigration and asylum to be key election battleground

Labour: Tory immigration plans lack “credibility”

Labour: Tory immigration plans lack “credibility”

Labour have attacked Conservative immigration plans as lacking “credibility,” saying the proposals will lead to the surrendering of Britain’s border controls.

A document published by Labour on Saturday attacks Conservative Party spending plans for asylum and immigration and the police. The report claims they will either have to make deep cuts to border controls or break their promise on police numbers to fund their proposals.

Conservative leader Michael Howard has said the asylum system is being abused and wants to set an annual limit on the number of asylum seekers allowed into the UK.

The opposition party also wants asylum applications to be processed abroad at offshore processing centres.

Immigration Minister Des Browne said the Conservatives have committed themselves to cutting nearly £900 million from the asylum and immigration budget under the plans.

“This is around half the total budget of the immigration service yet they have failed to give any details of how a cut of this scale would precisely be achieved,” said Mr Browne.

“Savings of this scale could only be achieved, for example, by removing our border controls, ending our enforcement action and getting rid of our detention centres.

“The Tories have a choice, they can either make damaging cuts to our border controls or they must break their promise on police numbers,” he added.

The Liberal Democrats have also attacked Mr Howard’s plans, claiming they would lead to genuine refugees being turned away.

The Tories dismissed the suggestion and stressed asylum levels would be considered when immigration quotas are set.

Labour research indicates the Tories’ campaign on immigration is having an effect on the electorate, making it likely the issue will be one of the key battlegrounds in the forthcoming general election.

On Monday, Home Secretary Charles Clarke will unveil the Government’s plans on immigration.

Mr Clarke is expected to promise more removals of failed asylum seekers, a points system for economic migrants, and electronic embarkation controls.