Charles Clarke

The Conservatives have accused Charles Clarke of undermining the prime minister's pledge to get tough on immigration.

Last week Tony Blair pledged further action to secure Britain's borders, as well as a new points system for immigrants seeking work in the UK.

But the home secretary told Labour's spring conference gathering that Britain should be taking more genuine asylum seekers and economic migrants.

Clarke told delegates that he wanted Britain to offer more refuge for those fleeing oppression abroad.

"That's not only a moral duty and a legal duty, but something which is part of the essence of this country," he said.

"We want more migration, more people coming to study and to work. We want more people coming to look for refuge."

But shadow home secretary David Davis said the comment's proved the prime minister's pledges were "all talk".

"Charles Clarke has completely undermined Labour’s promise, announced only last week, to get a grip on the asylum and immigration shambles that they themselves have created," Davis said.

"The home secretary has highlighted the clear choice at the next election – uncontrolled unlimited immigration under Labour or controlled immigration with the Conservatives."

Number 10's official spokesman said on Monday that the prime minister believed economic migrants that Britain needs should be able to come here.

The spokesman added that where there genuine cases of asylum the government believed that international rules should be applied.

And Clarke later attacked the Tories, saying they were "trying to score cheap political points by purposely mixing together the separate issues of immigration and asylum".

"I reiterate once again my views which I made  clear when launching the immigration and asylum plan last week," he said.

"On immigration we will continue to welcome genuine economic migration within a strict points based system.

"Migrant workers do key jobs in our economy which are not filled by our domestic workers. Overseas students earn hundreds of millions of pounds for our universities

"On asylum as I made clear to the House of Commons, it is essential to have clear and enforceable rule to ensure we admit only asylum seekers who are genuinely fleeing from death or persecution.

"Under our plans we expect unfounded applications to continue to fall."