Yvette Cooper, the Shadow Home Secretary, responding to David Cameron’s comments in the Express newspaper on immigration, said:

“David Cameron has completely failed on immigration - his target is in tatters, illegal immigration is getting worse, and the system isn’t fair. Before the last election he promised ‘no ifs, no buts’ he would cut net migration to the 'tens of thousands’. Yet it is the same level as when he took office. Why on earth should anyone believe him again?

"He claims he is dealing with illegal immigration, but he’s failed to deal with the crisis at Calais. He claims he has tightened the rules on foreign criminals, but fewer foreign criminals are being deported. He claims his government will bring in exit checks on the very morning a report says they won’t be in place before the election.

"Unlike Labour, David Cameron has no plans to stop dodgy employers exploiting immigration by undercutting local pay or agencies recruiting from abroad. Neither has he backed our proposal to recruit an additional 1,000 border enforcement staff. And he still hasn’t acknowledged that we need a system which recognises different kinds of immigration - so we can welcome more overseas students who bring billions into our economy and restrict low-skilled migration.

"Instead of empty promises from a Prime Minister who has failed to deliver, we need a fair and effective immigration policy. Only Labour is offering that.”

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