Clegg agrees with points-based immigration

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg responded to Prime Minister Gordon Brown's speech on immigration by agreeing with the need for an Australian-style points system.

Heeding the Labour leader's call for an 'open and responsible' debate on inward migration Clegg backed part of Labour's plans to control immigration, "The government is right to introduce a points-based system."

But the Lib Dem leader insisted that the government's plans did not fully address the issue: "The problem is immigration now means different things to different parts of the country. There is good immigration and bad immigration."

The Lib Dem's have previously outlined their plans for a regional approach to the controversial topic, stating that they would target immigration at areas with proven labour shortages and away from crowded ones.

When asked about the prospect of the Liberal Democrats role in a potential hung parliament, Clegg was less forthcoming.

Following the news that some of Westminster's more marginal parties had begun drawing up their demands in case of a close election result, the 43-year-old preferred to re-iterate his party's election pledges rather than be drawn on any 'kingmaking' deals.