Johnson ready to debate issue of immigration

With a General Election expected in less than three months, the Hull West and Hessle MP is happy to take on the issue and adamantly denies any perception Labour allowed an open-door policy.

"The accusation – which may or may not have been accurate – is that the main political parties shied away from debate and that's why extreme Right-wing groups prospered," he says.

"I certainly think it's right we debate these issues openly. We accept the valid concerns of the majority which is that immigration's been good for the country but has had a disproportionate effect on some communities.

"It must be controlled immigration. We haven't got an open door policy, we never had an open door policy, we never sought an open door policy."

In nearly seven months since arriving at the Home Office through Gordon Brown's Cabinet reshuffle after disappointing local election results, Mr Johnson has maintained his reputation as a steady, reliable hand.

His ability to communicate and easy demeanour have continued to ensure his name has always been in the frame when doubts have emerged over Gordon Brown's leadership, although he has remained loyal to the Prime Minister.

But with an election looming, and the British National Party having won two seats in last year's European elections – albeit having seen their actual vote fall in Yorkshire and the Humber, where they won a seat - he is aware Labour will be forced to defend its record on immigration.

He says the points-based system introduced by Ministers has allowed them to control the flow of foreign workers during the recession and claims the party's approach is more flexible than Tory calls for an annual cap on immigration.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post at his office at the Home Office, Mr Johnson says it is important to have a "civilised" debate but rejects "spurious" links between immigration and population in light of Office for National Statistics forecasts there may be 70 million people living in the UK by 2020.

Fertility and mortality are as much as factor in population as immigration is, he says.

"I am absolutely convinced the population will not reach 70 million by 2020, absolutely convinced of that," he says, insisting a cap on immigration would have no "dramatic" impact.

Addressing the challenge of the BNP, he adds: "We have to make those issues clear and ensure the British public understand that there's no mainstream parties out there that are advocating uncontrolled immigration and the Right-wing fringe groups are actually talking about a policy of racial purity – it's not an issue about immigration."

In recent days Mr Johnson has been leading the fight against the Tories' "misleading" use of violent crime statistics. While crime soared in the last recession, over the same period this time it is down, he says. They are "extraordinary statistics".

But Labour is likely to face repeated questions about whether it can keep intact the front line police force. Chancellor Alistair Darling has pledged enough funding to ensure levels of officers can be maintained, but individual forces will be responsible for how they spend that money.

Mr Johnson trumpets the fact there are 17,000 more officers under the Labour and says the number of officers is now at "the level they need to be at", but police numbers have already started to fall in 13 forces - including South Yorkshire. While he refuses to dictate to forces he admits it is "absolutely sensible" for civilians to be doing jobs that do not have to be done by more expensive officers.

"Where there are police forces that show a reduction in police numbers you will see that the number of police on the front line, actually on the streets, has gone up," he insists.