London - British opposition leader Ed Miliband accused David Cameron's government of "small-minded isolationism" in an election campaign speech Friday, but sparked a row after suggesting the prime minister was partly responsible for the Mediterranean migrant crisis.
In a foreign policy address ahead of the May 7 vote, the Labour party leader said Conservative Cameron had "stepped away from the world" and was risking the national interest by promising a referendum on Britain's European Union membership.
"David Cameron has presided over the biggest loss of influence for our country in a generation," Miliband told the audience at think tank Chatham House in London.
"It is time to reject the small-minded isolationism that has characterised this government.
"This government's approach has weakened Britain at a time when the challenges are perhaps greater and more complex than at any time since the Second World War."
Foreign policy has been little debated in the campaign aside from references to immigration; something the Labour Party said showed the "growing insularity of British politics".
Miliband described Cameron's absence from peace talks on the Ukraine crisis between French, German, Russian and Ukrainian leaders as an "apt symbol of Britain's isolation and waning influence".
But the Conservatives reacted angrily when Miliband appeared to partly blame Cameron's policy on Libya for the Mediterranean boat tragedies.
Some 1,500 migrants have died already this year on overloaded vessels setting out from fractious north African nations such as Libya.
AFP
