Diane Abbott said that Labour was committed to “maintaining and extending free movement rights”

Jeremy Corbyn has refused to say whether migration will rise or fall if Labour wins the election, after a split among his senior team over free movement.

The Labour leader said that people needed to be “realistic” about the jobs that have to be filled so the economy’s needs can be met and criticised “arbitrary” migration targets.

He suggested, however, that a policy to “extend free movement rights”, which was voted through at the Labour Party conference in September, would not be included in its election manifesto.

Mr Corbyn was speaking only hours after Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said that Labour was “committed” to the policy.

Len McCluskey, the head of the Unite trade union and a key supporter of Mr Corbyn, said