The one group of voters the Tories forgot about

Migrant voters could sway the result of up to 70 constituencies in the next general election, many of which are currently held by the Conservatives, when four million foreign-born Brits will be eligible to vote.

Researchers from the University of Manchester and the Migrants' Right Network identified 20 seats where the migrant vote could make the biggest difference.

The report estimates there are as many potential overseas-born electors as there are Ukip voters, and warns that they are being marginalised by mainstream political leaders’ attempts to claw back support from Nigel Farage’s party.

The findings will intensify alarm within the Tory leadership that the party’s lack of appeal to ethnic minority voters will severely hamper David Cameron’s chances of winning a commons majority.

We are making efforts to reach out, but for all our good intentions we are failing to get into their bloodstream.

• Cabinet minister, speaking anonymously to the i paper