Brown and Cameron are creating population hysteria - Cable

9.01.00am GMT Tue 30th Oct 2007

Speaking at the launch of a new CentreForum book titled Globalisation: A liberal response, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable MP said: "Both Labour and the Conservatives are creating a climate of population hysteria.

"Gordon Brown's demand for 'British jobs for British workers' is cynical populism from someone who encouraged EU immigration to support his economic boom.

"Labour's credibility on immigration has been completely undermined by its administrative incompetence as shown by the latest debacle over the number foreign workers in the country.

"The Conservatives are also playing on public concerns, promising to cut net immigration whilst somehow avoiding breaking EU rules or damaging British industries and academic institutions.

"Britain has benefited from immigration. Politicians should be providing solutions, rather than exploiting peoples' fears.

"It is essential that immigration is efficiently managed; that we have a properly resourced national border force; that local authorities are given the resources to plan for population changes; that English is promoted; and that long-term irregular residents are turned into law-abiding taxpayers.

"Both Labour and Tories lack the political courage to tell the truth and are therefore whipping up fear rather than providing positive and practical solutions."