PM's jobs pledge 'a huge mistake'

Construction and maintenance workers around the UK have protested

Gordon Brown should apologise for his "British jobs for British workers" pledge in the wake of wildcat strikes across the UK, say the Tories.

Tory leader David Cameron said the PM's words, cited by protesters who walked out in a row over Italian workers at a refinery, had been a "huge mistake".

He said it was "pandering to people's fears" and an "error of judgement".

But Mr Brown said it was his "duty" to help Britons acquire skills needed to get jobs in a global market.

Hundreds of workers walked out of refineries across the UK last Friday, in protest at a French-owned plant in Lincolnshire's decision to bring in 300 Italian workers for a contract instead of using local staff.

The "British jobs for British workers" pledge, made at the 2007 Labour conference, has appeared on signs by protesters at fuel plants to attack the government's stance on the dispute.

'Opportunistic'

Critics say Mr Brown's use of the slogan was meaningless and illegal under EU law.

At prime minister's questions, Mr Cameron said it had been "opportunistic", had encouraged "protectionist sentiment" and added: "He was pandering to people's fears and he knows it."

He said using the phrase had shown a "lack of judgement" and that the Mr Brown should "apologise instead of twisting".

You've decided it is in the interest of the Conservative Party to talk Britain down and you should be ashamed of yourself Gordon Brown Foreign labour row deal rejected

The prime minister responded: "Can anybody here say that they don't want British workers to get jobs in our country?"

He said it was "absolutely crucial that we do everything in our power to help people get the jobs that are available".

Mr Brown accused the Conservatives of opposing government investment in apprenticeships, getting unemployed people back to work through the New Deal and increasing public investment.

He also said the government was "far from protectionist" and was trying to secure a world trade agreement.

Mr Cameron said Mr Brown refused to admit mistakes and said Labour MPs were "ashamed" of the pledge.

'Should be ashamed'

But Mr Brown told him: "You go around the world talking the pound down. You go around the world saying we are going to have to go to the IMF. You go to Switzerland and say the British economy is weak.

"You've decided it is in the interest of the Conservative Party to talk Britain down and you should be ashamed of yourself."

The issue of foreign labour in the economy has intensified amid mounting job losses across industry and a fall in vacancies.

Several of the workers involved in strikes have brandished placards: "In the words of Gordon Brown 'British jobs for British workers'."

Mr Brown said he hoped protesters in Lincolnshire would accept a deal put forward by the arbitration service Acas, despite their initial "reservations".

New "guiding principles" had been put forward by the Construction and Engineering Association for companies always to consider whether there were competent workers available locally when thinking about using foreign staff, he added.