Brexit MEP: Sorry, we won’t stop migrants!
A LEADING Brexit campaigner was involved in a furious on-screen clash after appearing to row back on claims that quitting the EU would cut immigration.
Tory MEP Daniel Hannan said that the leave vote would not end freedom of movement – because the UK would have to agree to it to gain access to the single market.
His remarks, to irate presenter Evan Davis on the BBC’s Newsnight, came as the realities of Brexit faced increasing scrutiny – with Nigel Farage distancing himself from the claim that the £350million a week Britain sends to Brussels could be reinvested in the NHS.
On Newsnight, Mr Hannan advocated a Norway-style relationship with the EU, which allows it continued access to the single market on condition that Norway allows free movement.
Mr Davis shot back: ‘We’ve just been through three months of agony on the issue of immigration. The public have been led to believe that what they have voted for is an end to free movement.’
Mr Hannan said the Brexit campaign was about removing ‘legal entitlements to live in other countries, to vote in other countries and to claim welfare and to have the same university tuition’, not ending free movement of labour.
The presenter continued his line of attack, saying: ‘Why didn’t you say this in the campaign? Why didn’t you say that you were wanting a scheme where we have free movement of labour?
‘Come on, that’s completely at odds with what the public think they have just voted for.’
Mr Hannan said the Brexit campaign had never set a target for reducing numbers coming into Britain, and had instead only promised ‘a measure of control’.
The MEP was bombarded with criticism on Twitter in the wake of his appearance, leading him to respond yesterday: ‘Chaps, look at what I said throughout the campaign… I was for more control, not for minimal immigration.’
Later yesterday he said he would be taking ‘a month off Twitter’. Meanwhile, Mr Farage disowned the pledge made by Vote Leave to spend £350 million of EU cash on the NHS after Brexit.
He said: ‘I would never have made that claim. That was one of the mistakes that I think the Leave campaign made. It wasn’t one of my adverts, I can assure you.’
Pro-Remain Tory health Minister Alistair Burt said yesterday that Britons had been ‘conned’ by the Leave campaign. He tweeted: ‘Migration – Hannan shifts position. NHS £350m a week promise – Farage backs off.’ MEP Daniel Hannan