Blunkett: we'll keep control over immigration

David Blunkett claimed today that Britain would retain control of its borders despite agreeing to surrender the national veto on European asylum and immigration policy.

But Mr Blunkett insisted this will not mean losing control over immigration policy as Britain would be able to opt out of any Brussels policy it disagrees with.

In particular, the Government will reject proposals under the Hague Programme to set up a central processing centre to issue visas for all of the EU.

Home Office officials said it was necessary to move to qualified majority voting on asylum and immigration because it will speed up decision making in an enlarged EU of 25 member states.

A spokesman for Mr Blunkett said: "We will support the European proposals for two reasons. We can still have our opt-out, which means we can pick and choose which measures we agree with and which are not in Britain's interests.

"And, at the same time, we want to drive reforms of asylum and immigration in Europe rather than move at the pace of the slowest member."

The Government says Britain would not sign up to plans for EU-controlled border guards, consular services or asylum processing centres. Britain would also retain the right to control its own visa system.

"The reason we want to sign up to qualified majority voting is that we are one of the fastest moving countries on immigration and asylum, and it means we can drive it forward," the spokesman added. But the decision-to give up Britain's veto is a political gamble for Mr Blunkett as Labour prepares to defend its asylum policy in the run-up to the general election.

The move will also cast fresh doubts about the new EU constitution, which Tony Blair will officially endorse at a signing ceremony in Rome this week.

Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "This is the action of a gullible government. Once we give up the veto, we will see the development of a whole body of European law which will put inexorable pressure on us to give up any opt-out clauses."

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch, a think tank on asylum and immigration, accused Mr Blunkett of handing over the front door key to Brussels. "Other European countries have been waving asylum seekers through to Britain. We should know better than to hand over our front door key to Brussels," he said.