Tories and Lib Dems at odds over immigration

BRITAIN’S coalition government descended into a war of words over immigration policy yesterday, with the junior Liberal Democrats attacking Tory Prime Minister David Cameron’s hardline rhetoric.

Coalition tensions have been simmering ahead of council elections in which both parties are expected to suffer, and a Lib Dem-sponsored — and Conservative- opposed — referendum on the electoral system which could spark a deeper rift.

Cameron, in a speech likely to appeal to core Conservative voters, called for “good immigration, not mass immigration” and argued previous policies had nurtured extremism by creating “discomfort and disjointedness” in neighbourhoods.

Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable, who sees immigration as key to securing economic recovery, labelled Cameron’s choice of words as “very unwise”.

“I do understand there is an election coming but talk of mass immigration risks inflaming the extremism to which he and I are both strongly opposed,” Cable said, arguing Cameron’s aim to reduce immigration to tens of thousands per year — from hundreds of thousands — was not a Lib Dem policy.

The prime minister hit back with a thinly-veiled attack on the Liberal Democrat minister, accusing his critics of being “off beam”.

Defending the coalition’s move to cap the number of skilled workers coming to Britain from outside the EU, Cameron said mass migration had put pressure on housing and frontline services.

Between 1997 and 2009, when the Labour Party was in power, 2.2 million more people came to Britain than left, he said.

The Conservatives’ tough approach to immigration went down well with many voters in the 2010 election, as the party tapped into concerns that high immigration placed a burden on public services and reduced job opportunities for British workers.

“This speech is Liberal Democrat policy, this is coalition policy,” Cameron said, when asked about Cable’s comments.

“We sat down and we hammered out a coalition agreement.”

While analysts expect the coalition to remain intact until the 2015 national election, they say disagreements over policy could affect its ability to force through an austerity plan which has so far won the confidence of financial markets.

The Lib Dems’ popularity ratings have collapsed since the 2010 election because of an array of policy U-turns, raising questions within the party over why it is in the coalition.

Both parties are bracing themselves for a backlash in regional government elections on May 5, given widespread anger over the cuts to spending to tackle a record budget deficit.

The voting system referendum, on the same day, could also stir up resentment among the two parties.

“A heavy defeat, would be a major blow to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and could weaken support for the coalition within the Lib Dem party,” said Citi economist Michael Saunders.

“This would create risks that the coalition splinters in 2011-13 before the UK’s journey back to fiscal sustainability is complete.”

In his speech, Cameron said reducing immigration was “of vital importance to the future of our country” and recognised that in some areas it had caused “discomfort and disjointedness” because some migrants have been unwilling to integrate or learn English.

He also attacked the “woeful” welfare system which meant foreign workers could not be blamed for snapping up jobs that should be taken up by Britons languishing on state handouts.

He attacked Labour for claiming it was racist to talk about immigration, saying it is “untruthful and unfair” not to speak about it.

He argued it is not a case of “immigrants coming over here and taking our jobs” because some migrants created wealth and jobs.

He said the “real issue” is “migrants are filling gaps in the labour market left wide open by a welfare system that for years has paid British people not to work”.