Labour MPs are urging their party to listen to public concern about immigration.

Birmingham MP Steve McCabe (Lab Selly Oak) is the latest to highlight the issue, warning that voters are not happy with the current system.

Fellow Birmingham MP Liam Byrne (Lab Hodge Hill) and Black Country MP Ian Austin (Lab Dudley North) have both raised concerns in recent weeks.

Mr McCabe has launched a constituency-wide immigration “conversation” with constituents, including a public meeting held at Rowheath Pavillion, Bournville.

He told Shadow Home Office Secretary Yvette Cooper that the majority of people who attended the event back measures to attract highly skilled people for specific jobs as well as people who can set up businesses and create jobs. But he added: “The overall view was that people aren’t happy with current immigration policy and want the focus to be on attracting highly skilled workers that will add value to our economy.

“People also wanted better monitoring of who is entering and leaving the county.”

Mr McCabe said: “I think it is important to listen to what people really think about immigration, nail the lies, establish the facts and come up with practical solutions and ideas.”

Mr Austin is calling for Labour to bring in exit checks to count people in and out of the country, bring back fingerprint checks for illegal migrants at Calais, stop people claiming benefits for children abroad and change the law to make it easier to deport EU criminals for a first offence when they first arrive.