Party leader suggests curbs on free movement for single market access
Jeremy Corbyn will today lay out his vision for a ‘Labour Brexit’ that works for everyone, not just the financial sector, with greater public investment and making sure the rich pay their share of taxes.
The Labour Leader, in a bold new direction likely to divide opinion in his party, also said Labour is ‘not wedded to free movement’, would seek full access to the single market and to bring back powers from Brussels.
However, he said Labour would not join the Tories in ‘scapegoating’ migrants.
Corbyn is expected to say:
“Unlike the Tories, Labour will insist on a Brexit that works not just for City interests, but in the interests of us all.”
He will say Leave campaign promises of £350 million a week for the NHS mean ‘The British people voted to refinance the NHS – and we will deliver it’.
Labour would make firms with government contracts of over £250,000 pay UK tax and train young people through apprenticeships. It would also strenthen collective bargaining by unions and roll back deregulation.
On Brexit an immigration, Corbyn will say:
“Labour is not wedded to freedom of movement for EU citizens as a point of principle.
But nor can we afford to lose full access to the European markets on which so many British businesses and jobs depend.
Changes to the way migration rules operate from the EU will be part of the negotiations.
Labour supports fair rules and reasonably managed migration as part of the post-Brexit relationship with the EU.”
He will add:
“Unlike the Tories, Labour will not offer false promises on immigration targets or sow division by scapegoating migrants.
But Labour will take action against undercutting of pay and conditions by closing down cheap labour loopholes, banning exclusive advertising of jobs abroad and strengthening workplace protections.
That would have the effect of reducing numbers of EU migrant workers in the most deregulated sectors, regardless of the final Brexit deal.”
See: Class struggle is missing from liberals’ immigration stance
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