Labour vows to open door to EU migrants after Brexit
LABOUR will vow to “maintain and extend” the free movement of EU citizens at the next general election.
Following a party conference vote on border controls, all immigration detention centres would be closed if Jeremy Corbyn wins power.
A motion said Labour will campaign for “free movement, equality and rights for migrants” and reject any immigration system based on “incomes, migrants’ utility to business and number caps or targets”.
It will ensure an “unconditional right” to family reunion, scrap all “hostile environment” measures and seek to “actively challenge anti-immigrant narratives”.
The proposals, which will be included in the next manifesto, also state that Labour will pledge to give all foreign nationals living in the UK the right to vote in general elections.
The change could have a major impact on any fresh Brexit referendum as there are currently around three million EU citizens living in Britain. The motion stated: “Free movement, equality and rights for migrants, are socialist values and benefit us all.
“Confronted with attacks on migrants – from the racist ‘hostile environment’ to the Conservatives’ Immigration Bill that plans to end free movement and strip the rights of workingclass migrants – we stand for solidarity, equality and freedom.
“Scapegoating, ending free movement and attacking migrants’ rights are attacks on all workers. They make migrant workers more precarious and vulnerable to hyper-exploitation, pressing down wages and conditions for everyone.”
The Labour Campaign for Free Movement said delegates at the gathering in Brighton had unanimously backed its motion with a show of hands.
“Today we made history,” members wrote on Twitter.
“Let it be the moment the Labour movement launched its fight back against xenophobia – and came out fighting tooth and nail for migrants’ rights.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “Jeremy Corbyn does not believe in any limits on immigration. Corbyn’s Labour even wants to extend free movement to more countries and allow potentially dangerous illegal immigrants to roam our streets.”
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage tweeted: “Labour now officially the party of open door mass migration without control. Old Labour voters will be appalled by this.”