Green rejects 'core vote' shift

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David Cameron's calls for tighter immigration controls are not part of a "move back to a core vote strategy", says the Tories' immigration spokesman.

Damian Green told the BBC the issue was one that was important to all voters.

On Wednesday Mr Cameron told Newsnight immigration had been "too high" and was putting pressure on public services.

It had been put to Mr Green this showed Mr Cameron was switching his focus from the political centre-ground to issues appealing to traditional Conservatives.

Mr Green told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that immigration was just one of several issues, including health and social breakdown, that Mr Cameron had raised in the past few weeks.

'Straight answer'

Mr Green told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "In no way is this a move back to a core vote strategy."

"He [Mr Cameron] was asked a straight question about immigration policy last night and he gave a straight answer."

He added: "We like to promote our vote in all areas of the population."

Having a firm immigration policy is a way of contributing to better community cohesion in this country Damian Green

Mr Green said there was no new emphasis on immigration as the party had called for limits on economic migrants from outside the EU 12 months ago.

On Wednesday, Mr Cameron told the BBC's Newsnight, that levels of immigration over the past ten years had been "too high" and said: "I think we have put too great a burden on public services and I think it needs to be better controlled."

Mr Green added that various local authorities had experienced difficulties - highlighting the problems faced by Slough in finding school places for "large numbers of children who they didn't know were there, who couldn't speak English".

Tory 'overtures'

"Inevitably many of the incoming communities do cluster together, it's a natural thing to do, and therefore if that's unplanned and unexpected then it's very difficult for the local authorities to cope.

"So actually having a firm immigration policy is a way of contributing to better community cohesion in this country."

Mr Cameron has faced some criticism of his leadership over his policies on grammar schools and relatively disappointing by-election results, but has vowed to continue his efforts to move the party to the centre ground of politics.

Tim Montgomerie, editor of the ConservativeHome website, said in the last ten days there had been "various overtures" on the four "core vote issues" for Tory members - Europe, tax, crime and immigration.

He added: "For a lot of us grassroots who have wanted to see this shift, it is beginning to happen."