General Election 2015: Labour claims Tory record on immigration is 'in tatters' as Miliband announces crackdown on 'endemic' exploitation

Ed Miliband admits his party 'got it wrong' on immigration in the past

Speaking in the Wirral, Mr Miliband said his party would not make promises it could not keep (PA)

Labour leader Ed Miliband has announced a new taskforce to crack down on immigrant exploitation today, as he admitted his party “got it wrong” on immigration in the past.

In a swipe against Conservative leader David Cameron, Mr Miliband claimed only Labour could enforce strong border controls and tackle the exploitation of migrant workers.

Under a Labour administration, Mr Miliband said a new 100-strong Home Office Enforcement Unit would “root out” the “exploitative practices that drive down wages and drive up low skill migration”.

In a speech in Heswall, Merseyside, the Labour leader condemned the Tories’ record on immigration – labelling it “in tatters” – and told voters that his party will not make promises it cannot meet.

“Britain needs a Prime Minister who will only make promises on immigration that he can keep,” Mr Miliband said.

Under the Conservatives, immigration, which Mr Cameron promised to reduce to tens of thousands, has risen to 298,000 thousand last year.

Mr Miliband added that abusive practices, such as forcing scores of workers to live in cramped houses for illegally low wages, is pushing unskilled migration and lower wages for other workers in the area.

Miliband greets supporters (Getty)

To counter this, the Labour leader proposed bringing in staff from the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and specialist police units, alongside Home Office staff, to tackle the “endemic” exploitation.

"This new unit will have the powers and funding it needs to increase the prosecutions and convictions of Britain's worst employers: those who exploit workers and drag down the wages of everyone else."

Mr Miliband admitted that Labour were wrong in their approach. "But Labour got this wrong in the past. We have listened. We have learned. And we have changed," he told his audience.

Mr Miliband wants to tackle the “endemic” exploitation against immigrants (AFP)

He also stressed the importance of greater integration, with everyone who settles in the UK able to speak English – adding that “nowhere is that more true than in our NHS”.

"So in the future all healthcare professionals will be required to speak English to a sufficient standard so they can care effectively for patients. And we will legislate to give all the healthcare regulators - not just some - clear powers to enforce this rule," he said.

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