The Government has been accused of pursuing a secret policy of encouraging mass immigration for its own political ends.

By Tom Whitehead, Home Affairs Editor - Published: 10:00PM GMT 09 Feb 2010

Voting trends indicate that migrants and their descendants are much more likely to vote Labour Photo: PA The release of a previously unseen document suggested that Labours migration policy over the past decade had been aimed not just at meeting the countrys economic needs, but also the Governments social objectives.

The paper said migration would enhance economic growth and made clear that trying to halt or reverse it could be economically damaging. But it also stated that immigration had general benefits and that a new policy framework was needed to maximise the contribution of migration to the Governments wider social aims.

However, the paper, which was written in 2000 at a time when immigration began to increase dramatically, said controls were contrary to its policy objectives and could lead to social exclusion.

Last night, the Conservatives demanded an independent inquiry into the issue. It was alleged that the document showed that Labour had overseen a deliberate open-door policy on immigration to boost multi-culturalism.

Voting trends indicate that migrants and their descendants are much more likely to vote Labour.

The existence of the draft policy paper, which was drawn up by a Cabinet Office think tank and a Home Office research unit, was disclosed last year by Andrew Neather, a former adviser to Tony Blair, Jack Straw and David Blunkett.

He alleged at the time that the sharp increase in immigration over the past 10 years was partly due to a driving political purpose: that mass immigration was the way that the Government was going to make the UK truly multi-cultural.

However, the full document was made public only yesterday following a Freedom of Information request by Migrationwatch, a pressure group. A version of the paper was published in 2001, but most of the references to social objectives had been removed. In the executive summary alone, six out of eight uses of the phrase were deleted.

Labour has overseen an unprecedented rise in immigration, which has led to a rise of about three million in the UK population since 1997. Until recently, it accused opponents who called for tougher controls of playing the race card. Labour was forced to change its rhetoric amid concerns that the economic and social reality of immigration had alienated voters in its heartlands.

Gordon Brown pledged to secure British jobs for British workers as the recession led to a rise in unemployment and, just four months ago, he was accused of a U-turn when he insisted that it was not racist to discuss the issue.

The document released yesterday suggested that Labour originally pursued a different direction. It was published under the title Migration: an economic and social analysis but the removal of significant extracts suggested that officials or ministers were nervous over references to social objectives.

The original paper called for the need of a new framework for thinking about migration policy but the concluding phrase if we are to maximise the contribution of migration to the Governments economic and social objectives was edited out.

Another deleted phrase suggested that it was correct that the Government has both economic and social objectives for migration policy.

Sir Andrew Green, the chairman of Migrationwatch, said the document showed that Mr Neather, who claimed ministers wanted to radically change the country and rub the Rights nose in diversity, had been correct in his account of Labours immigration policy.

Labour had a political agenda which they sought to conceal for initiating mass immigration to Britain, he said. Why else would they be so anxious to remove any mention of social aspects?

Only now that their working-class supporters are deserting them in droves have they started to talk about restricting immigration.

Damian Green, the shadow immigration minister, accused the Government of having a secret policy. This shows that Labours open-door immigration policy was deliberate, and ministers should apologise, he said. This makes it all the more important that there is a proper independent inquiry in the origins of this policy and whether ministers have been deceiving people.

Jack Straw, who was home secretary when the paper was drawn up, has adamantly denied any secret plot and insisted that he had been tough on immigration.

Phil Woolas, the Immigration Minister, said the policy changes introduced in the 1997-2001 Parliament toughened immigration rules. The reports confirm there is no evidence to back the idea there was an open-door policy, he said. The Government was criticised at the time for tightening the policy.

Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, will announce today moves to make it harder to earn citizenship.

Election '10 night: scalps, farewells and survivors
Farewell to some familiar faces ...and others who survived the night

SCALPS
Jacqui Smith
Jacqui Smith, the former Home Secretary, who was forced to step down from the government after she used her parliamentary expenses to pay for her husbands adult films, has been emphatically defeated in Redditch. She is the biggest scalp of the election for the Conservatives. Karen Lumley, the partys candidate, won 19,138 votes - 9.2 per cent swing from Labour. Ms Smith, who was deeply embarrassed by the disclosure of her expenses claims, became largely synonymous with the scandal. A doleful-looking Ms Smith looked close to tears at the count.

Peter Robinson

In one of the most astonishing results in the region's history, Peter Robinson, Northern Irelands First Minister, lost East Belfast to Naomi Long of the Alliance Party. Ms Long won 12,839 votes, a majority of 1,533. Mr Robinsons stunning defeat can be attributed to revelations in his private life earlier unearthed earlier this year. His wife Iris was forced to quit politics after she failed to declare a 50,000 loan to her teenage lover. Mr Robinson, who denied any wrong doing in the saga, was initially forced to stand down as First Minister, but later returned. His wife, who tried to commit suicide after her husband discovered her affair, is currently in acute psychiatric care.

Lembit Opik

Lembit Opik, the flamboyant Liberal Democrat, was beaten by the Conservatives in Montgomeryshire. The Conservative candidate Glyn Davies ousted Mr Opik with a swing of 13 per cent, winning 13,976. Mr Opik, who courted attention, was one of the elections biggest surprises. It seems voters were unimpressed with Mr Opiks antics. He courted media attention with his engagement to Cheeky Girl popstar Gabriela Irimia and later with his relationship with weather presenter Sian Lloyd. Mr Opik had been the Lib Dem MP here since 1997. His said to suggestions his private life had influence voters: Its a very sad day for democracy if being characterful means you cant be in parliament.

Charles Clarke

Charles Clarke, the former home secretary and Labour rebel, has lost his seat to the Liberal Democrats. Simon Wright won Norwich South with a 310 majority. Mr Clarke, who was highly critical of Gordon Brown from the backbenches, was reported to be behind attempts to oust the Prime Minister in January. Mr Wright won 13,960 votes - a swing of 4 per cent from the Liberal Democrats.

FAREWELLS

Dr Evan Harris

Dr Evan Harris, a leading Liberal Democrat, known for his independent views and feisty temperament, has lost Oxford West and Abingdon to the Conservatives. Dr Harriss defeat typified a disappointing night for the party. Nicola Blackwood, the Conservative candidate, won by 176 votes, after a recount. Dr Harris, who was elected in 1997, won 23,730 votes.

Mike OBrien

Mike OBrien, a Health Minister, was beaten in Warwickshire North by 54 votes. Mr OBrien had been MP here since 1992. Dan Byles, the Conservative candidate, won 18,993 votes, with a 7.7 per cent swing from Labour.

Shahid Malik

Shahid Malik, the Parliamentary under-Secretary of State in department for Communities and Local Government, has lost in Dewsbury. Mr Malik, who was caught up in the expenses scandal, was beaten by Simon Reevell, the Conservative candidate, by 1,526 votes. Mr Reevell won 18,898 to Mr Maliks 17,372 - a 5.9 per cent swing from Labour to Conservative. Mr Malik had been forced to stand down as a justice minister in May 2009 after it was revealed he had not declared a preferential rent on his main home. He rejoined the government a month later.

Phil Hope

Phil Hope, a Health Minister, has lost his seat to Tory A-list candidate Louise Bageshaw. Ms Bageshaw, the successful chick-lit author, took Corby by 1,951 votes. Mr Hope had held the seats since the Labour landslide in 1997. Ms Bageshaw won 22,886 votes, a swing of 3.4 per cent from Labour.

Bill Rammell

Bill Rammell, the Armed Forces Minister, has been ousted from his Harlow seat by the Conservatives. Mr Rammell, who won the constituency 13 years ago, was beaten by Robert Halfon who polled 19,691 votes to Mr Rammells 14,766.

SURVIVORS

Ed Balls

Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary, narrowly avoided a "Portillo moment", squeezing home with just over 1,000 votes. Antony Calvert, the Conservative candidate, polled 17,264 votes - a swing of 9.3 per cent.

The Conservatives' mission to castrate the Labour party was heavily funded by Lord Ashcroft, the partys deputy chairman. Mr Balls standing in the Morley and Outwood was one of the most eagerly awaited results of the election. Mr Cameron had urged voters to give Mr Calvert a moment to rival Mr Portillos stunning defeat at Enfield Southgate in 1997. Mr Calvert had told locals that he wanted to cut off Labours Balls. Thanking the electoral staff, Mr Balls said: I am sorry for the cameras that they didnt get the moment they were looking for, although I must say it was quite close.

Oliver Letwin

Oliver Letwin, the Conservative Partys election chief, who drew up the partys election policies, saw off the Liberal Democrats with a 3,923 majority. Mr Letwins Dorset West seat was seen as one of the most vulnerable for senior Tories. Mr Letwin increased his share of the vote by 1.1 per cent to 27,287 votes. Sue Farrant, the Liberal Democrat candidate won 23,364 votes.

Hazel Blears

Hazel Blears, who was criticised by Gordon Brown over her expenses, held Salford despite a concerted local campaign. Ms Blears, who resigned from the Cabinet on the eve of last summers local and European election, won 16,655 votes. Norman Owen, the Liberal Democrat candidate won 10,930 votes and Matthew Sephton, the Conservative candidate came third with 8,497. Ms Blears was heavily criticised by her constituentes for undermining the Labour Party when she wore a Rockin the Boat broach following her resignation.