Miliband vows crackdown on 'endemic' exploitation

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

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

Under a Labour administration, 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 need a prime minister who will only make promises on immigration that he can keep,” Miliband said.

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

Miliband added that abusive practises, 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 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 will tell his audience.

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.