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  William Hague and Kenneth Clarke clash over EU immigration
  Former chancellor dismisses claims that too many migrants have arrived from EU, saying they have made positive contribution
  
  Kenneth Clarke said the idea of a debate 'that stops all these foreigners coming here is typical rightwing, nationalist escapism'. Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA
  William Hague and Kenneth Clarke, who contested the Tory leadership in 1997, have clashed on Europe after the former chancellor dismissed claims that the EU is to blame for unacceptable levels of immigration.
  
  In a direct challenge to David Cameron, who criticised the last Labour government for failing to impose work restrictions on Poland and seven other east European countries when they joined the EU in 2004, Clarke said migrants had made a positive contribution to society.
  
  Clarke, who sits in the cabinet as the prime minister's trade envoy, told the FT: "I just don't think it's true that the European Union is responsible for unacceptable waves of migration."
  
  The former chancellor said a market economy could not function without free movement of labour and the government should not go beyond clamping down on the abuse of benefits.
  
  He told the FT: "The idea that you can have some fundamental debate that somehow stops all these foreigners coming here is rather typical rightwing, nationalist escapism, I think."

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