I understand immigration fears, insists Brown - VIDEO

At a factory in Halesowen, in the West Midlands, Mr Brown twice insisted: "Yesterday was yesterday."

He added: "I think I've apologised and I've said it was the wrong word to use.

"I am concerned about immigration and controlling immigration. We have introduced controls.

"Sometimes it is frustrating that you've got to remind people that the points system has been brought in and is now working.

"No unskilled worker comes to this country from outside Europe and for skilled workers, we are reducing the categories of skilled workers that can come to this country."

Earlier, he insisted, ahead of tonight's crucial final leaders' debate, that now he wanted to talk about the future of the economy and the risk of a "double dip" recession.

Mr Brown has already apologised to 66-year-old Gillian Duffy and party activists for his unguarded comments yesterday after she raised immigration issues with him.

Mr Brown said during today's factory visit: "Yesterday was yesterday. Today I want to talk about the future of the economy."

He said immigration was being "managed and controlled" through the points system.

Asked how anyone could believe him after the gaffe, Mr Brown replied: "I think people know that when you make a mistake you apologise and talk to the person who was concerned about it.

"People understand that. But people also know I'm talking about the big issues - not just immigration but the economy and jobs.

"When it comes down to it, this election will be about the economy and about public services and how people see the future of the economy and public services."

Mr Brown said: "The first thing we need to do is ensure the recovery is strengthened.

"We cannot allow ourselves to go back to a situation where there is either a double-dip recession or the economy moves backwards."

He acknowledged immigration was on many people's minds and perceived as being "way too high".

He added: "I understand the worries people have about immigration, I understand the concerns about what is happening to people's neighbourhoods and I understand the fears that people have.

"But we have taken action with this new points system and net migration to the United Kingdom is now coming down."

Mr Brown was criticised by a member of staff as he toured the Thompson welding machinery factory.

He remarked to Jayne Shinwell, a contract development worker, that the firm was doing well in China.

The 40-year-old mother of two responded: "Our company's doing well everywhere, but I think it's in spite of you."

Later, in a boost for Mr Brown, more than 100 economists put their names to a letter warning that Tory efficiency savings could lead to job losses and "destabilise" a fragile recovery.

The letter, signed by economists including Lord Layard, emeritus professor of economics at the London School of Economics, and David Blanchflower, a former member of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee, said the 6 billion savings in 2010-11 amounted to a spending cut.

"It will lead directly to job losses and indirectly to further falls in spending through the standard multiplier process. At a time when recovery is delicate, it could even affect confidence to the degree that we are tipped back into recession - with much larger job consequences," it said.

"This is not the time for such a destabilising action. The recovery is still fragile.

"Only when the recovery is well under way, will it be safe to have extra cuts in government expenditure.

"Rash action now could imperil not only jobs but also the prospects for reducing the deficit."