Prime minister strongly rejects Lords' view that foreign workers do not benefit Britain

Gordon Brown said there will not be a cap on immigration because foreign workers are making a “huge contribution” to the economy.

His comments follow a report from the Lords economic affairs committee, which rejected claims by Labour that immigrants were beneficial to the economy and said they had a neutral effect on living standards.

Brown said: “Most people in the City of London know they have benefited very substantially. Not just from the inward investment from international companies, but the number of key workers who are coming to join them and are making a huge contribution.”

Around 190,000 foreign workers come into the country each year.