TONY BLAIR went on the offensive over asylum and immigration on Friday accusing the Tories of exploiting people's fears on the issue.

The prime minister was in Dover to make a keynote speech on the issue to counter Conservative claims that the asylum system is in chaos.

He said: "Concern over asylum and immigration is not about racism. It is about fairness.

"The Conservative campaign is based on the statement that it is not racism to talk about immigration. I know of no senior politician who has ever said it was."

He went on to say that the Conservative accusations of chaos were "an attempt deliberately to exploit people's fears. The Tory party has gone from being a one nation party to being a one issue party."

He announced plans for an additional 600 immigration officials to add to the 2,400 recruited since 1997. He said they would be targeted on the removal of failed asylum seekers.

He also launched a fierce attack on the Conservative policy on asylum calling it "incoherent babble".

"Mr Howard's policies aren't going anywhere. They aren't practical. And they aren't costed. If the Tory plans won't work and aren't funded, what will happen? Confusion at best, chaos at worst."