Labour want ‘as much free movement as possible’
John McDonnell gave a revealing glimpse of Labour’s election policy on immigration yesterday, declaring that the party wanted to see ‘as much free movement as possible’.
The Shadow Chancellor said a Labour government would bring in a ‘sensible immigration policy’ to ensure enough people come to the country to benefit the economy.
The commitment to open borders comes just two years after Labour stood on a manifesto pledging: ‘Freedom of movement will end when we leave the European Union.’
however, last month delegates at Labour’s conference voted to ‘maintain and extend freedom of movement’ – even after the UK leaves the bloc.
Asked what would be in Labour’s manifesto, Mr McDonnell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘We are saying let the people decide on a sensible Brexit option and give them the option to remain.
‘What we’ve said is we’ll have an immigration policy which makes sure we have as much freedom of movement as possible – that’s exactly what the conference debate was all about.
‘We enjoy freedom of movement ourselves right the way across Europe – it’s of real benefit to many people in this country.’
The Shadow Chancellor was then challenged about the 2017 election manifesto, which included the commitment to end freedom of movement.
he said that while the freedom will ‘formally’ end after Brexit, a Labour government would enter into negotiation with Europe to ensure it continues. ‘Formally it does so, that’s why you have to negotiate a new immigration policy which benefits both ourselves and the European Union,’ he explained.
‘What we’re saying is we’ll have the level of immigration that’s needed to benefit our country.
‘We can’t have this situation as we have at the moment where we’ve got crops rotting in the ground because we can’t attract the labour. What we’ve got to do is make sure we have a sensible immigration policy which reflects what our country needs.’
only last month, Labour activists voted for a huge overhaul of border controls and an end to many curbs on migration. Delegates at the party’s conference backed a motion to ‘maintain and extend free movement rights’ and scrap all immigration detention centres should be scrapped.
It also said migrants should be given an unconditional right to family reunion – making it easier to bring relatives here. The motion said there should be no caps on arrival numbers, or any rules stipulating skills or income.
It is unclear which of these will make it into the Labour election manifesto.
Yesterday Labour challenged Boris Johnson to a head-to-head TV debate during the election campaign.
Jeremy Corbyn’s spokesman said the Labour leader was ‘committed’ to a debate and they were ‘in discussion with the broadcasters’.
he said Labour wanted to see a oneon-one TV clash between the two men who could conceivably become prime minister after the election. This would deny a place to Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson. In 2017, Theresa May was widely criticised after refusing to take part in a live debate and sending Amber Rudd in her stead.
Asked about a three-way discussion with Miss Swinson, the spokesman said: ‘There are only two people who can be prime minister at the end of this campaign and I think the British public have a clear right to see them debate head-to-head on TV.’
■ hard-Left movement Momentum was reported to the Electoral Commission over concerns it has broken campaigning rules after it raised more than £100,000 in 12 hours.
Tory deputy chairman Paul Scully has told the body, which oversees elections, that Momentum is not registered as a ‘non-party campaigner’ and said the Commission should investigate this ‘as matter of priority to ensure that, whether deliberately or by omission, no breaches of electoral law are taking place.’
‘A clear right to see them debate’