17:55

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is set to face a new campaign from his supporters to significantly soften his stance on immigration.

Two influential trade union leaders, as well as Momentum activists and around a dozen other supporters, have signed a letter to the Guardian saying Labour must “defend and extend” freedom of movement.

Corbyn and his shadow home secretary Diane Abbott have previously been sympathetic on freedom of movement, although Corbyn has said free movement will by definition end with Britain’s exit from the EU and any future system must not allow exploitative working practices.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes, one of the letter’s authors, said Abbott and Corbyn had fought against racism and for workers rights their entire lives. He said:

Given this, I really can”t see why they would want to roll back on the right of workers to free movement. But there’s pressure everywhere to surrender on this principle, and it’s absolutely critical that the Left of the labour movement fights back and pushes the other way.

Another of the letter’s co-authors, Sahaya James, a member of Momentum’s ruling national coordinating group, said Corbyn had “a record of standing up to the tabloid narrative on things like immigration.” James said Momentum did not have an official position on Brexit or free movement, but said the vast majority of members were in favour of free movement. She said:

I can guarantee that a huge bulk of members and activists are in favour of defending free movement and fighting for migrants’ rights. It’s not enough to sit around and wait for Jeremy to come out with policies - the left needs to wake up and make its voice heard on this.

The full letter can be read here.



