Labour might support a liberal immigration policy in London with tougher curbs elsewhere in the country, Tom Watson has said.

The deputy leader of the party said the idea was not yet fully developed or ready for a manifesto.

Labour has been wrestling with immigration for years and since the Brexit vote last year has been deeply divided between London MPs who promote the benefits of migrants and those from other communities where voters are deeply opposed.

Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said the party could support a liberal immigration policy in London with tougher curbs elsewhere in the country

In an interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr today (pictured), the deputy leader of the party said the idea was not yet fully developed or ready for a manifesto

Mr Watson told the BBC's Andrew Marr the party's solution was at an early stage.

He gave no details on how it might work - such as where the border on a London zone might be drawn or how migrants might be stopped from moving between the zones.

Asked whether immigration should be higher or lower, Mr Watson said: 'I don't think you can say that.

'I think you can actually say London requires more liberal immigration policies but there are other parts of the country where immigration may be putting pressure on public services like schools and hospitals.

'That's why I think when we come out of the EU we can have an immigration policy that maybe addresses both those issues.

'These are nascent ideas, we're not ready to make them robust in a manifesto yet but they're certainly the debate that is going on in the Labour party right now and in wider circles.'

A spokesman for Mr Watson said: 'Tom was sketching out some ideas about the approach we might take in the future in an attempt to stimulate debate. He made it clear that this is not Labour Party policy'

Prime Minister Theresa May has placed getting immigration down to 'sustainable levels' is a crucial part of her Brexit strategy

Labour has previously proposed an 'immigration dividend' that would see areas of high immigration given extra Government cash to prop up public services.

In a new year speech, leader Jeremy Corbyn said he is not 'wedded' to free movement of people with the EU - but the section was watered down amid fears it was too hard line.

Labour's difficulty on the issue go back almost a decade after Gordon Brown came under fire for proposing 'British jobs for British workers' in 2009.

Prime Minister Theresa May has placed getting immigration down to 'sustainable levels' is a crucial part of her Brexit strategy.

Six years after the Tories were elected on a promise of getting net migration to the tens of thousands, the number of people coming to the UK has risen to near record highs of around 330,000.