Lib Dem's Vince Cable to launch scathing attack on Conservatives

Business Secretary Vince Cable will launch a scathing attack on the Conservatives at the Liberal Democrats' spring conference later, focusing on the Tories immigration target and plans for a referendum on membership of the European Union.

Mr Cable will use his speech to accuse the Tories of having a negative message on trade unions, benefits and multiculturalism, accusing them of an attack on "workers, shirkers and burqas".

Mr Cable, who has a history of using keynote speeches at Lib Dem conferences to attack his coalition colleagues, will tell the gathering in Liverpool: "The Tories have a strange, split personality which embraces, on the one hand, free market economics and, on the other, nationalism - or, at least, English nationalism.

"A century ago the Tories believed in closing down trade: protectionism. Now they try to throw obstacles in the way of highly skilled Indian software engineers or Brazilian students or Chinese business visitors in order to meet some ludicrous, unobtainable target set for them by Nigel Farage or Migration Watch.

"And their fear of the Ukip right has led them into the cul-de-sac of the EU referendum: potentially years of uncertainty which will scare off many inward investors who want to retain or bring jobs here for British workers."

Mr Cable will speak out in favour of immigration, although he will stress the need to improve the skills of British workers.

He will also criticise Labour, accusing the party of "still clinging to the idea that the decision over what is produced and prices charged should be made by ministers and civil servants sitting in Whitehall".

Both Labour and the Tories "pander to their core vote", he will claim.