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Ed Miliband: Labour immigration policy 'fair and sensible' Ed Miliband: Labour immigration policy 'fair and sensible'
(35 minutes later)
Ed Miliband has said a future Labour government would introduce "fair" and "sensible" controls on immigration.Ed Miliband has said a future Labour government would introduce "fair" and "sensible" controls on immigration.
The Labour leader said his party had made "mistakes in the past" on the issue and had learned from them. It would be illegal for employers to use foreign workers to undercut wages to end "the epidemic of exploitation".
He announced plans to make it illegal for employers to undercut wages to end "the epidemic of exploitation". He also insisted Labour would never "dismiss" public concerns about the scale and impact of immigration.
Earlier, a leaked document suggested Labour wanted its MPs to "move the conversation" away from immigration when campaigning in constituencies.Earlier, a leaked document suggested Labour wanted its MPs to "move the conversation" away from immigration when campaigning in constituencies.
Speaking in Great Yarmouth, the Labour leader set out plans to stop cheap foreign workers replacing British staff, saying a future Labour government would pass a law to criminalise such behaviour.Speaking in Great Yarmouth, the Labour leader set out plans to stop cheap foreign workers replacing British staff, saying a future Labour government would pass a law to criminalise such behaviour.
He promised a "sensible approach" to immigration controls, not "false promises or false solutions", adding that he was "serving notice" on firms which exploited workers. He promised a "sensible approach" to immigration controls, not "false promises or false solutions", and said Labour would "always respond to concerns (about immigration), not dismiss them".
"It isn't prejudiced to worry about immigration, it is understandable," he said.
He was speaking as a leaked Labour strategy document, was revealed by the Daily Telegraph. In it, MPs were told not to send out leaflets about immigration to all voters because it could prove to be "unhelpful".He was speaking as a leaked Labour strategy document, was revealed by the Daily Telegraph. 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, 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.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.
"Volunteers and activists must understand and acknowledge electors' concerns about immigration on the doorstep, which will mean hearing opinions that may not gel with their own," it says."Volunteers and activists must understand and acknowledge electors' concerns about immigration on the doorstep, which will mean hearing opinions that may not gel with their own," it says.
The document highlights the changes in Labour's immigration policy since 2010 and says campaigners should "contextualise the problem as something that Labour has a clear plan to improve".The document highlights the changes in Labour's immigration policy since 2010 and says campaigners should "contextualise the problem as something that Labour has a clear plan to improve".
But the document says Labour cannot win a "bidding war" with UKIP, adding: "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 says Labour cannot win a "bidding war" with UKIP, adding: "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, because "as a political party, we are more effective at changing what is discussed and debated as opposed to changing what may be long-held and entrenched opinions of each party or views on which party has the best policies on each issue".And it warns that Labour may lose votes the more "salient" immigration becomes as an election issue, because "as a political party, we are more effective at changing what is discussed and debated as opposed to changing what may be long-held and entrenched opinions of each party or views on which party has the best policies on each issue".
The document adds: "Our focus must instead be moving the conversation on to issues where we have clear policy which tackles the problems people are worried about, whether they express those concerns through the prism of immigration or not."
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."
'Clear policy''Clear policy'
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. The document adds: "Our focus must instead be moving the conversation on to issues where we have clear policy which tackles the problems people are worried about, whether they express those concerns through the prism of immigration or not."
"We have a new policy around more border police, counting people in and out of the country," she said. 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.
"On benefits, [Labour wants] a waiting period of two years before you can claim benefits if you are new to the country." The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said Labour was insisting it was not frightened to talk about immigration.
Immigration was 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. The party has said immigration will be one of five commitments on its election "pledge card", which will promise fair rules on benefits, including requiring new EU migrants to wait two years before claiming welfare.
But UKIP MEP Douglas Carswell said Labour candidates were being told to "talk about something else" when asked about immigration by the public. In his speech, the Labour leader 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 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.
The Labour leader 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 Milibandsaid 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. In the past, Mr Miliband 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.
Mr Miliband said 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 said 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.
"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 said."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 said.
"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.""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."
But UKIP MEP Douglas Carswell said Labour candidates were being told to "talk about something else" when asked about immigration by the public.
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.