ASHFORD MP Damian Green says the Conservative party has struck the wrong tone on immigration and asylum and must be prepared for a more rational and civilised debate on the issue.

The shadow immigration spokesman’s comments came as the Government unveiled its proposals for a points system for future immigrants designed to attract “the brightest and best” from the developing world.

Mr Green said that in the past, the Conservatives may have struck too harsh a tone when debating the issue.

“What I am trying to do is create a calm and civilised debate about how we have a properly controlled immigration policy. We do need immigration controls and should not just open our borders but to get to that we do need all the facts and for the debate to be civilised and rational,” he said.

In a newspaper article, Mr Green said immigration had “enriched British society and widened the horizons of British people to the rest of the world.”

However, he expressed unease about the Government’s ability to deliver its proposed points policy, which is based on the system used in Australia.

“I do not disagree with the principle of it. But my concern is about the ability of the Home Office to deliver a practical system on the grounds that we have had a series of disasters with the implementation of immigration policies. Until we have a proper border controls and full knowledge of who is coming here and who is leaving, I am sceptical.”

The government had proved “completely ineffectual” in its efforts to reduce the number of people who were in the UK illegally, he added.