
Ed Miliband today claimed that only Labour can be trusted to control immigration, as he set out his plan to take control of the nation's borders in a back garden in South Wales.

The Labour leader claimed only his party 'can repair our immigration system and have real controls', while refusing to say what level he thinks immigration should be cut to.

But in bizarre scenes, he made the speech from a lectern set up in a garden on the outskirts of Cardiff, with neighbours' washing blowing in the wind.

Ed Miliband today claimed that only Labour can be trusted to control immigration, as he challenged the Tories to match his promises

Mr Miliband chose to speak to supporters and journalists in the garden of Labour's local office in Rhiwbina, Cardiff, with neighbours' washing blowing in the wind in the background

Mr Miliband has previously admitted his party 'didn't get this right' on immigration when in government.

He promised immediate action if he wins on May 7 with an Immigration Bill introduced in the first Queen's speech.

He claimed that there could be 'no greater sign' of how Labour has changed on the issue than its plans to introduce reforms within 100 days.

During a campaign visit to Cardiff, he said: 'It's Labour that is focusing on immigration with days to go in this campaign so that we can take action within weeks of coming into government.

'There can be no greater sign of how our party has changed on this issue and how the Tories have failed.

'There's only one party which can repair our immigration system and have real controls and that is the Labour Party.'

Mr Miliband claimed that there could be 'no greater sign' of how Labour has changed on the issue of immigration than its plans to introduce reforms within 100 days.

Mr Miliband outlined plans to recruit 1,000 extra border staff, introduce full exit checks and stop serious offenders coming to Britain

Mr Miliband leaves the garden by the back gate before climbing into his waiting car to continue his campaigning tour, with nine days until the election

David Cameron has faced criticism for spectacularly missing his target to cut net migration to Britain to the 'tens of thousands'.

Latest figures show that in the year to September the figure hit 298,000, almost three times what the Tory leader wanted. Labour claimed this broken promise has helped to cause a loss of faith in British politics.

Mr Miliband outlined plans to recruit 1,000 extra border staff, introduce full exit checks and stop serious offenders coming to Britain.

Its reforms also include ending the indefinite detention of people in the asylum and immigration system, maintaining the cap on workers from outside the EU, a crackdown on employers undercutting wages, a ban on overseas-only recruitment, a two-year wait for benefits, and language requirements for state sector workers dealing with the public.

During a question and answer session with public in the Vale of Glamorgan, Mr Miliband said: 'Nothing damages people's faith in politics more than broken promises like that - or those he is still making today.

'I will only make promises I can keep. I won't offer false targets or seek to exploit concerns with the politics of fear. Instead, I am offering clear, credible and concrete ways of making a real difference.

'Immigration is too important an issue for our country to be abandoned by the Prime Minister so it can be exploited by Nigel Farage.

'We are setting out sensible and practical changes to this system. Today, I challenge the Conservative Party to match our offer, show you are serious on immigration without making false promises or playing the politics of fear.'

After giving his speech, Mr Miliband met party supporters and posed for selfies before campaigning elsewhere in Wales

During a campaigning visit to Cardiff, the Labour leader went to Snails Deli where he met owner Rupert Sykes

The Conservatives claimed the move was a smokescreen to distract from the concession the Labour leader would be prepared to make on immigration to the SNP.

A spokesman said: 'This is a desperate attempt by Ed Miliband to distract from his refusal to say what deals he is prepared to do with Nicola Sturgeon's SNP to prop him up in Downing Street.

'The Conservatives have a plan to control immigration and build a system that puts the British people first. We will regain control of EU migration by reforming welfare rules, tackle criminality and abuse of free movement and cut immigration from outside the EU.

'But Ed Miliband - propped up by the SNP, who want to force him to weaken immigration controls - would just take us backwards.'

Whether he is in a car park, a factory or even a field, Ed Miliband is never far from his lectern

Labour leader Ed Miliband has been touring the country with his lectern the prop in an attempt to make him appear more statesmanlike.

He has delivered key speeches in the campaign stood behind the lectern. But it has also been deployed when he is just making some brief remarks or holding question and answer events with members of the public, making appearances in a back garden, in a field and a car park.

Mr Miliband’s enthusiasm for speaking from behind a podium comes after his disastrous party conference speech last September when he forgot to mention the deficit while speaking without a lectern or autocue.

Whether he is in a car park, a factory or even a field, Ed Miliband is never far from a lectern during the election campaign

He has delivered key speeches in the campaign stood behind the lectern - including at a NHS rally in Leeds on April 23 (left). But it has also been deployed when he is just making some brief remarks or holding question and answer events - and even in the middle of a field in Nuneaton (right)

As Mr Miliband launched Labour’s election campaign at the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit in Olympic Park last month he spoke in front of the lectern branded with a Union Jack flag and the Labour logo.

When he unveiled the party’s manifesto in Manchester he also spoke from behind the lectern.

And during his audience question and answer in the first televised leaders’ debate on Channel 4 and Sky News he chose to speak from behind a lectern, while David Cameron chose instead to have a stool on stage.

The lectern has also been used in some more unconventional settings though. As he spoke in the car park of an engineering factory in Loughborough the lectern was put on a small raised platform next to a puddle.

When he visited the national Composites Centre in Bristol he conducted a Q&A in front of an aeroplane with the lectern.

The revelation that Mr Miliband had brought in leadership coaches after Mr Miliband faced ridicule after being pictured standing at a lectern in the middle of a field in a bid to look prime ministerial.

The lectern also had an outing when he spoke at Brooks Building of Manchester Metropolitan University as part of Labour's health week

Ed Miliband, speaking at Chatham House in London last week, has hired a 'leadership consultancy' firm which coaches people to look 'authentic' and cope with anxiety, it has emerged

Then last week as he launched Labour campaign billboards in Nuneaton, he spoke from behind a lectern, even though he was in the middle of a cricket pitch.

The constant use of the lectern is thought to be part of a strategy to make Mr Miliband look more like a man who could be prime minister.

Last month it was reported that he had hired US speech coach Michael Sheehan on a £10,000 daily fee to improve his delivery and charisma.