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Labour would honour the rights of 200,000 EU citizens living in Scotland and design a Brexit immigration policy that would match the EU’s freedom of movement principles, Diane Abbott has signalled.

The Shadow Home Secretary has insisted that Labour will put economic prosperity ahead of Tory plans to end free movement of people from the EU in any compromise Brexit deal.

In an attempt to claw back ground from the SNP, which argues that of free movement and more immigration are essential to grow Scotland’s population, Abbott emphasised how a Labour government would protect the rights of EU citizens.

Ahead of talks resuming with the government, Abbott said: “Labour’s immigration policy honours our existing commitments to the three million EU citizens in the UK, including more than 200,000 currently living in Scotland, and is designed to fill skills and labour shortages in our NHS, social care and other sectors.”

“All the workers we need will be welcome here, and they and their families will be treated fairly.”

Tory Ministers and their Labour opposites will meet on Friday following the announcement of a new Brexit delay until 31 October, giving Theresa May more time to reach a deal with Labour that can command a majority in the Commons.

Labour has so far stood by a manifesto commitment that “freedom of movement will end when we leave the European Union”, and the Prime Minister cited an end to free movement as one basis for a possible compromise deal.

But Abbott’s commitment to EU workers opens up some distance from the Tory position.

She said: “Throughout the entire Brexit debacle, the Tories have prioritised campaigning against migrants generally and freedom of movement in particular.

“Labour rejects arbitrary and unworkable numerical immigration targets. In the UK Parliament, Labour has voted against the Tory immigration bill that would end freedom of movement.

“It is foolish and reckless to change our immigration system in this way without first knowing what our future relationship with the EU will be.”

The shadow Home Secretary continued: “Labour has repeatedly argued for close alignment with the Single Market, and our future immigration system must fit into any outcome of the Brexit negotiations.

“The government wants to put its claim to be curbing immigration ahead of our shared prosperity.

“Labour will always put jobs and prosperity first, and we will end the Tories’ degrading and inhumane hostile environment that has led to people being wrongly deported and unfairly targeted.”