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Labour MPs told not to focus on immigration when campaigning Labour MPs told not to focus on immigration when campaigning
(35 minutes 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.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.
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".
Voters' concernsVoters' concerns
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.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. It claims immigration is the issue "people most often cite" when explaining why they support Nigel Farage's party, which ran Labour close in October's Heywood and Middleton by-election in Lancashire and is targeting a number of Labour-held seats in May's general election.
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 the document 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.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."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.""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.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. The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said Labour was insisting it was not frightened to talk about immigration, pointing out that Mr Miliband was about to make the party's second major election pledge on the 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. The Labour leader 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 payUndercutting 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 as well as increase fines for firms not paying the full 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. Mr Miliband 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. "We are serving notice on employers who bring workers here under duress or on false terms and pay them significantly lower wages, with worse terms and conditions," he will say.
She told the BBC it was "shocking" that killers had been given British passports because "the Home Office failed to do basic checks". "This new criminal offence will provide protection to everyone. It will help ensure that, when immigrants work here, they do not face exploitation themselves and rogue employers are stopped from undercutting the terms and conditions of everyone else."
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.