Howard attacks migrant 'madness'

Michael Howard today accused Labour of "a kind of madness" over illegal immigrants and gypsy camps.

He turned his campaign back to the controversies in the wake of the huge row over the murder of policeman Stephen Oake by an illegal immigrant. He claimed "politically correct minorities" were getting favourable treatment at the expense of ordinary families.

In a speech on "British values", Mr Howard said Labour policies such as the Human Rights Act had subverted traditional fair play.

He cited gypsies being allowed to keep homes built without planning permission and a prisoner who sued - successfully - for the right to have pornography delivered to his cell.

"It's this kind of madness that is creating a growing gulf between the people and the new Establishment," claimed the Tory leader.

"Most people have no difficulty telling right from wrong. But Mr Blair and his powerful friends seem ever ready to blur the distinction."

Mr Howard said Britons expected everyone to be treated equally.

In more familiar themes, he claimed that Mr Blair has subverted British values by allowing the growth of a yob culture where thugs are not afraid of authority.

Mr Howard has made controlled immigration a major theme of his campaign with promises to create a Border Control Police force and impose an annual cap on people coming into the country. Opinion polls show he has his biggest leads on crime and asylum policies.