Corbyn abandons manifesto vow on free movement

LABOUR triggered fury last night after it abandoned its manifesto commitment to end freedom of movement.

Jeremy Corbyn ordered his MPs to back the ‘NorwayPlus’ plan to stay in the EU single market which would leave Britain tied to freedom of movement rules – a clear breach of the Labour manifesto commitment in 2017 that ‘freedom of movement will end’ after the UK leaves the EU.

Last night the Norway-Plus plan – also known as Common Market 2.0 – was voted down by MPs by 282 votes to 261.

Twenty-five Labour MPs defied Mr Corbyn’s instruction. They included many in pro-Leave seats such as Sarah Campion, Kate Hoey, Ruth Smeeth, John Mann and Caroline Flint. Former leadership candidate Owen Smith also voted against.

Mr Corbyn’s decision to support the plan sparked a backlash from pro-Brexit Labour MPs before the vote.

One of them, Sir Kevin Barron, tweeted: ‘Small reminder of the manifesto that all Labour MPs were elected on in 2017. Clearly states that we will end freedom of movement when we leave the EU.’

In a letter to Labour MPs, Mr Corbyn said ‘in order to break the deadlock … I also ask you to support motions that reflect aspects of Labour’s alternative plan.’