Brown demands 'responsible' immigration debate

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for a 'responsible' debate on immigration during the election campaign as he set out Labour plans for an Australian-style points system to control inward migration.

Mr Brown's comments come ahead of an election campaign in which immigration will once again be a hot topic, with the controversial British National Party leader Nick Griffin desperate to win the party's first seat in Parliament.

The PM is calling on all mainstream parties to present "a united front" against those who seek to simply bring a halt to immigration and use hatred to purposefully stoke voters fears.

"The question is who has the best plan to control immigration - not who can appeal to our worst instincts of nationalism and xenophobia, but who can appeal to our best instincts of a fairer Britain for all," Mr Brown stated.

"The question of who comes to Britain, and what they have to do to earn that privilege, is something that should be the subject of open and responsible debate.

"But how we conduct this debate is as important as the debate itself." added the PM.