David Blunkett has set out plans to make incitement to religious hatred a criminal offence.

The comments came in a wide-ranging speech that set out the government's approach to culture and immigration.

The home secretary also said that new migrants who want to become British citizens will have to demonstrate a minimum standard of English or take a compulsory course of language and citizenship classes.

His speech came as new figures indicated that there has been no dramatic increase in the number of people from Eastern Europe registering to work in the UK since the enlargement of the EU.

The Conservatives responded by announcing plans to tighten up Britain's border controls.

Shadow home secretary David Davis accused Labour of "losing their grip" on the immigration system and said his five proposals were designed to "stamp out abuse within the immigration system".

Meanwhile, the Islamic cleric at the centre of a row over suicide bombings yesterday publicly repeated his support for "martyrdom operations" within Israel and expressed surprise at calls to ban him from Britain.

Speaking on a platform alongside London mayor Ken Livingstone, Professor Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who is not allowed to enter the US because of his views, defended the right of Palestinians to use such tactics.

The row prompted Conservative leader Michael Howard to call for the cleric to be banned from Britain.