Michael Howard once again talked up immigration as the Tories' key issue at a rally yesterday, despite a former Conservative Home Office minister branding the party's plans as "alarmist and deceitful".

Howard claimed that the "one question" he was asked repeatedly when he toured the country was why the government could not "get a grip" on the issue.

But prior to the speech, former Tory immigration minister Charles Wardle who served under Howard while he was home secretary, attacked the Conservatives' policy.

Wardle said the plans were "uncosted, unworkable and likely to make immigration and asylum problems worse, not better".

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy also accused Howard of scaremongering in a "destructive way".