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The architect of New Labour has defended his party’s immigration record on the final day of campaigning in Newcastle .

Lord Mandelson was on Newcastle’s Quayside on Wednesday making the case for the UK’s continued membership of the European Union .

The former Cabinet minister was asked if he or his party bore any responsibility for the anti immigration feeling and rhetoric that has dogged the remain campaign.

The ex European Commissioner for Trade has admitted in previous interviews that New Labour not only welcomed but actively encouraged the mass influx of migrants from eastern Europe in 2004.

The Labour government at the time estimated that 13,000 would move to Britain from Poland and other eastern European nations- more than a million arrived. This point has been trotted out time and time again by the UK Independence Party and leave campaigners as cause to walk away from the EU.

Lord Mandelson accepted that people had a right to be concerned about migration - but was resolute in his belief that the positives far outweighed the negatives.

He said: “I understand why people are concerned about immigration but that can be managed in other ways than leaving the EU which would wreck our economy, we would really be cutting off our nose to spite our face.

“The reason why we have movement of EU nationals is because we are members of the EU - of which we receive huge benefits.

He added: “There are 100,000 jobs in the North East which are linked to trade with the EU single market - one of the conditions of that is free movement of people and there are about two million British people taking advantage of that.”

Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes along with Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah were also on the Quayside with Lord Mandelson making the case for remain.

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Coun Forbes said: “The remain campaign has been a broad church in the Labour, from Lord Mandelson to Jeremy Corbyn. We have all been out knocking on doors and making the case to remain.

“For Newcastle and the North East in terms of jobs and investment the EU has had a huge impact over the past 20 years.”

On the last day of campaigning leaders of the leave and remain sides were crossing the country in a frenetic final push for the winning line.

Prime Minister David Cameron joined political rivals on a battle-bus tour to promise a “bigger, better Britain” if voters back continued EU membership while leave standard-bearer Boris Johnson flew across the country to tell voters that June 23 can be “independence day”.

The result of the referendum is expected early morning on Friday.