Fury as senior Lib Dem says cutting immigration will make Britain 'nasty and insular'
A SENIOR Liberal Democrat has caused fury by claiming that cutting immigration levels will make the UK a "nasty, small and insular” country.
Tim Farron, who is favourite to replace Nick Clegg as the party's leader, last night insisted that immigration is "much more of a blessing than it is a curse" and immigrants "make Britain successful".
He added that the party's "devastating" defeat at the General Election was "based on fear and division".
The Lib Dems lost 51 seats in the House of Commons, resulting in Clegg's resignation after eight years in charge.
Farron appeared on a Question Time panel in Derby with Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, Labour MP Stella Creasy, columnist Owen Jones and Dragons' Den businesswoman Hilary Devey.
His remarks come before David Cameron makes a speech insisting he will not give up on his 100,000 net immigration target – despite presiding over the highest levels for a decade.
Speaking on Question Time, Tory Morgan said that reducing annual immigration is the “right ambition" – and pointed to a “sense of fairness for everyone".
She added that "reforming our relationship" with the European Union remains a major issue for the Conservative government to tackle.
But Labour's Stella Creasy, who is looking to become the party's deputy leader, called for the "reset button" on the immigration debate.
The MP said she was “proud of the diversity" and claimed that the UK would "pay extra" if it leaves the European Union.
She was supported by Farron, who labelled leaving the EU "unpatriotic" – and suggested it would lead to the loss of three million jobs.
However, Morgan hit back, saying: "We'll be alright on our own, out of the too big and too bossy EU.”
