PA • GETTY Brexit-backing John Mann said Tom Watson's call for EU migration controls would be ignored

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In a late bid to convince their party’s supporters to vote to Remain in the EU at next week’s historic referendum, a series of top Labour figures have suggested Britain could attempt to end the EU’s founding freedom of movement principle after June 23. Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson said it is “inevitable” whichever party wins the next general election would have to promise reform to EU migration rules, as he called on the Prime Minister to make it a “priority” for Britain’s upcoming EU presidency in 2017. Mr Watson’s comments were backed up by prominent Labour MPs and followed ex-shadow chancellor Ed Balls’ call for “new controls on economic migration”.

Labour voters are key to David Cameron’s bid to keep Britain tied to Brussels at the EU referendum in just nine days time. But despite Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and most of the party’s MPs backing a vote to stay in the EU, the Remain camp has been spooked by fears traditional Labour voters could be turning towards Brexit over immigration concerns. Mr Corbyn, who has previously made a series of eurosceptic comments, has been attacked for his apparent lack of enthusiasm for remaining in the EU. And a recent poll revealed 45 per cent of Labour voters were unsure of the party’s support for Remain or believed it backed Brexit. Last week, Labour MPs John Mann and Dennis Skinner both came out in support of Britain leaving the EU.

PA Ed Balls also called for EU migration contols

If Cameron’s ‘renegotiation’ told us one thing, it is that the EU will not move on this founding principle. Labour MP John Mann

Bassetlaw MP Mr Mann cited the impact of uncontrolled EU immigration on his constituency as his reason for wanting Britain to quit the “imploding” bloc. And although he today welcomed the fact Labour figures acknowledged immigration concerns among voters, he dismissed any chance of Brussels allowing reform. The ex-trade union worker noted how Mr Cameron “failed to achieve any reform of the EU - particularly in the area of border control” during his much-vaunted renegotiation. He said: “He asked them to change their open borders policy, but the resounding answer was no. ‘While some in the In campaign are desperately trying to hang on to the idea that Cameron’s renegotiation could reduce immigration, senior Labour figures are openly admitting defeat on this issue - and calling for a change to the EU’s obsession with freedom of movement. 'While it is welcome that they are finally admitting that uncontrolled migration is a problem, the truth is that they still have no solutions. “If Cameron’s ‘renegotiation’ told us one thing, it is that the EU will not move on this founding principle. “The only way to take back control of our borders and introduce an Australian-style points-based immigration system is to vote to Leave on June 23.”

Earlier, Mr Watson had told the BBC the EU will have to look again at freedom of movement. He said: "For the last decade I would say that immigration has been the backdrop to every election we've had in Britain and woe betide politicians that don't listen to what voters tell them.” Mr Watson said "the immigration issue is complicated", but added: “I think what we have to reassure people of is that if they vote Remain on Thursday June 23, that isn't the end of the reform package for Europe. “I think a future Europe will have to look at the free movement of labour rules." He continued: “A future government - whether it's Labour or Conservative - has to hear what voters are telling them and if you look across the continent of Europe, voters are telling the political elites the same thing. “So to me it's inevitable that whoever wins the next general election will have to make it their negotiating position when it comes to future European reform and David Cameron has the opportunity to do that if he makes it the priority for Britain's presidency of the EU next year. "

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