There may be race riots in Britain if people believe that immigration is out of control, Michael Howard said last night.

The Conservative leader, who was speaking during an ITV1 television programme, was accused of pandering to xenophobia and hatred by the angry audience.

When Gilbert Barthley, an Afro-Caribbean, accused the Tories of playing on people's fears, Howard replied: "I've met many people from ethnic minority backgrounds who agree with me that we should have controlled immigration."

A young Asian man accused Howard of "shambolic opportunism".

Dean Velani, 18, said: "You are inciting xenophobia and hatred in our country."

But Howard denied the charge. "You are entitled to your view but I disagree. And what I say to people who hold the view you hold is, 'If you disagree with these proposals, tell us what you would do'.

"It doesn’t take the debate much further to pin labels on me or abuse or insult me in the way you have just done."