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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Labour MPs told not to focus on immigration when campaigning | Labour MPs told not to focus on immigration when campaigning |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A leaked Labour document - which has been sent to some of the party's MPs and activists - says they should avoid talking about immigration when they are campaigning. | |
| It says the issue could be "unhelpful" and may risk losing votes. | It says the issue could be "unhelpful" and may risk losing votes. |
| The leak comes as the Labour leader Ed Miliband prepares to set out plans to stop cheap foreign labour replacing British workers. | The leak comes as the Labour leader Ed Miliband prepares to set out plans to stop cheap foreign labour replacing British workers. |
| Labour said lines from the document had been taken out of context. | Labour said lines from the document had been taken out of context. |
| Voters' concerns | Voters' concerns |
| The leaked strategy document, revealed by the Daily Telegraph, was put out by Labour Party headquarters. In it, MPs were told not to send out leaflets about immigration to all voters because it could prove to be "unhelpful". | The leaked strategy document, revealed by the Daily Telegraph, was put out by Labour Party headquarters. In it, MPs were told not to send out leaflets about immigration to all voters because it could prove to be "unhelpful". |
| They were also instructed to "move the conversation on" to other topics if voters expressed concerns about border controls. | They were also instructed to "move the conversation on" to other topics if voters expressed concerns about border controls. |
| The document, entitled Campaigning Against UKIP, says Labour campaigners should listen to the concerns of voters who are leaning towards UKIP. | |
| It claims immigration is the issue "people most often cite" when explaining why they support Nigel Farage's party. | |
| But it adds: "It does not however follow that campaigning on immigration issues and emphasising our policies in our conversations with electors is always the correct response." | But it adds: "It does not however follow that campaigning on immigration issues and emphasising our policies in our conversations with electors is always the correct response." |
| And it warns that Labour may lose votes the more "salient" immigration becomes as an election issue. | And it warns that Labour may lose votes the more "salient" immigration becomes as an election issue. |
| A Labour spokesman called the newspaper's story "nonsense" and added: "This is a 33-page document in which the Daily Telegraph is interested in taking only a few lines out of context." | A Labour spokesman called the newspaper's story "nonsense" and added: "This is a 33-page document in which the Daily Telegraph is interested in taking only a few lines out of context." |
| Shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she had not seen the document, but Labour did have "clear, concrete and considered" policies on immigration. | |
| "We have a new policy around more border police, counting people in and out of the country," she said. | |
| "On benefits, [Labour wants] a waiting period of two years before you can claim benefits if you are new to the country." | |
| Immigration is not everyone's number one concern, she said, adding it was important when campaigning to focus on the issues voters were raising on their doorstep. | |
| Later, Ed Miliband will make what Labour are calling a significant speech on the immigration issue. | Later, Ed Miliband will make what Labour are calling a significant speech on the immigration issue. |
| He is expected to put forward plans for a new law which would help stop firms exploiting legal loopholes to employ foreign workers on lower wages than their British counterparts. | |
| Undercutting pay | Undercutting pay |
| In the past, Mr Miliband has said he would close one such loophole which allows foreign agency workers to be legally paid less than the national minimum wage. | In the past, Mr Miliband has said he would close one such loophole which allows foreign agency workers to be legally paid less than the national minimum wage. |
| The law would allow evidence to be used against firms which can be shown to have employed migrant staff on significantly different terms to local workers. | The law would allow evidence to be used against firms which can be shown to have employed migrant staff on significantly different terms to local workers. |
| He will say that the measure would stop such firms from undercutting the pay and conditions of low-paid British workers and also protect immigrants from being exploited. | |
| On Sunday, the shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said a future Labour government would carry out stronger checks to stop foreign criminals from becoming UK citizens. | On Sunday, the shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said a future Labour government would carry out stronger checks to stop foreign criminals from becoming UK citizens. |
| She told the BBC it was "shocking" that killers had been given British passports because "the Home Office failed to do basic checks". | She told the BBC it was "shocking" that killers had been given British passports because "the Home Office failed to do basic checks". |
| The Home Office said it had inherited an immigration system "in disarray" and had introduced widespread reforms. | The Home Office said it had inherited an immigration system "in disarray" and had introduced widespread reforms. |