COUNCIL leader Clyde Loakes has been accused of exploiting immigration fears in the constituency where he is hoping to become MP.

Among the Labour election pledges highlighted in his leaflet to voters in Northampton South is a commitment to continue the implementation of an "Australian-style points-based immigration system".

Cllr Loakes said: "This will help to reduce the overall numbers of migrants and making sure we attract only those people with the skills our economy needs.

"Migrants must also support themselves, learn English, pay taxes and obey the law."

In contrast, Cllr Loakes has refrained from highlighting the measure in multi-cultural Waltham Forest.

At the launch of the council's One Community campaign three years ago, Cllr Loakes adopted a different tone.

He said: "It [Waltham Forest] is one of the most diverse boroughs in London, and we have a fantastic track record of people from all walks of life and different backgrounds living together.

"We are determined to celebrate the pride and unity which characterises our streets, our neighbourhoods and our borough."

Cllr Matt Davis, the leader of the Conservative council group, said: "It does appear incredibly hypocritical of a man who has spent seven years strongly supporting and spending lots of money on community cohesion, to now be playing on people's fears about immigration for his own electoral self-interest."

Cllr John Macklin, Lib Dem group leader, said he has not seen the leaflets, but added: "It does sound a bit worrying, a bit of a lurch to the right and political opportunism."

Cllr Loakes denied the accusation that he is hypocritical and said Cllr Davis has confused the separate issues of community cohesion and immigration policy.

He said: "They are two entirely different things, community cohesion is about how we build sustainable communities, how people get on with their neighbours, immigration policy is about how many people are in the country.

"This goes to show how out of touch the Tories in Waltham Forest are.

"I have never even been asked about immigration policy because as a council leader it is something I have no control over."

Cllr Loakes said the leaflet is a direct mail letter which has gone out to hundreds of thousands of homes across the country.

He said there needs to be a "robust discussion" about Labour policy on immigration, and said the points system may well be successful.

Two years ago Cllr Loakes said the number of migrants entering Waltham Forest is being underestimated by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

He said this had repercussions for the borough because Government funding for services is based on ONS population estimates.

Cllr Chris Robbins, the council's cabinet member for children and young people, has been elected to replace Cllr Loakes as Labour group leader.

He will almost certainly be formally elected as council leader later this month.

The new Australian-style points system, which began in February 2008, aims is to ensure only those migrants the country needs can come to work and study in the UK.