SHADOW minister Chris Bryant says there needs to be an "open and honest" debate about immigration.
The issue is currently dominating the political agenda following this week's Queen Speech and the recent surge of support for Ukip in the local council elections.
Visiting the city to join a discussion on the subject with business, council, police, trade union and church representatives at the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, Labour's shadow immigration minister said it would be wrong to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach to the issue.
He said: "We need to get used to talking about immigration in a more straightforward way.
"We need to be able to talk about it openly and honestly.
"I am conscious there were things that we, the Labour Party, got wrong, as a government, on immigration.
"By the time of the 2015 General Election, we need to have constructive ideas and policies that work.
"Sometimes, it appears the focus is on looking for an answer to the issue that can apply across the country.
"I do not think that works. We need to have a much more nuanced approach rather than simply having a one-size-fits-all solution."
The majority of speakers at the event expressed confidence over the way recent Eastern European migration had generally benefited East Yorkshire's economy.
Former city council leader Councillor Colin Inglis said the influx of migrant workers had boosted Hull's population, breathed new life into inner-city areas such as Spring Bank and had probably saved a number of primary schools from possible closure by reversing the trend of falling pupil numbers.
Goole carrot farmer Guy Poskitt, who is also the regional chairman of the National Farmers' Union's horticulture and potatoes board, employs about 180 Eastern European migrant workers at his business.
He said: "I could not run my business without my Eastern European workforce.
"It's nothing to do with rates of pay. We pay our workers properly, with skilled workers on a premium.
"What I have found is that they are dedicated to their jobs and are prepared to be flexible.
"They are prepared to work unsociable shifts on what can be very mundane jobs.
"If a big order comes in at difficult time, they will drop everything and do it, while some of the locals will not.
"It's all about the work ethic and my concern is the supply of young local people making their way through the ranks to management might be drying up."
