Watching the Austrian elections unfurl on Monday felt like being given a sneak preview of the EU referendum result night. The independent left-wing candidate Alexander Van der Bellen beat right-wing Norbert Hofer, taking 50.3 per cent of the vote.

In a month’s time, we too will be nervously clicking refresh on news websites as the final postal votes are counted to reveal an uncomfortably narrow margin in an election that, just like in Austria, hangs in the balance over whether we stand against, or in support of, inward migration. I get sweat-inducingly anxious just thinking about it.

Van der Bellen, the new Austrian President, won on a pro-immigration ticket while his opponent had threatened to use his presidential prerogative to dissolve the government if it failed to act on immigration.

Similarly, and for all the conversations about red tape and agricultural subsidies, the Brexit debate is one about the free movement of people within the EU: a vote to remain is a vote for internationalism; a vote to leave, a ballot in favour of national chauvinism. As with Austria, the ideological lines in the sand are clear.

Though his position on the EU may have changed over the years, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has always been staunchly pro-immigration, for humanitarian, social and economic reasons. His critics fear that his liberal stance is driving away voters in his party’s working-class heartlands, ignoring their concerns about the movement of labour and pushing them into the arms of anti-immigration parties such as Ukip. Perhaps there is something that Corbyn’s Labour could learn from Van der Bellen.

The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit Show all 7 1 /7 The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 22 May 2015 In his regular column in The Express Nigel Farage utilised the concerns over Putin and the EU to deliver a tongue in cheek conclusion. “With friends like these, who needs enemies?” PA The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 13 November 2015 UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Mike Hookem, was one of several political figures who took no time to harness the toxic atmosphere just moments after Paris attacks to push an agenda. “Cameron says we’re safer in the EU. Well I’m in the centre of the EU and it doesn’t feel very safe.” Getty Images The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 19 April 2016 In an article written for The Guardian, Michael Gove attempts to bolster his argument with a highly charged metaphor in which he likens UK remaining in the EU to a hostage situation. “We’re voting to be hostages locked in the back of the car and driven headlong towards deeper EU integration.” Rex The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 26 April 2016 In a move that is hard to decipher, let alone understand, Mike Hookem stuck it to Obama re-tweeting a UKIP advertisement that utilises a quote from the film: ‘Love Actually’ to dishonour the US stance on the EU. “A friend who bullies us is no longer a friend” The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 10 May 2016 During a speech in London former work and pensions secretary Ian Duncan Smith said that EU migration would cause an increasing divide between people who benefit from immigration and people who couldn’t not find work because of uncontrolled migration. “The European Union is a ‘force for social injustice’ which backs the ‘haves rather than the have-nots.” EPA The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 15 May 2016 Cartoon character Boris Johnson made the news again over controversial comments that the EU had the same goal as Hitler in trying to create a political super state. “Napoleon, Hitler, various people tried this out, and it ends tragically.” “The EU is an attempt to do this by different methods.” PA The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 16 May 2016 During a tour of the women’s clothing manufacturer David Nieper, Boris had ample time to cook up a new metaphor, arguably eclipsing Gove’s in which he compares the EU to ‘badly designed undergarments.’ “So I just say to all those who prophecy doom and gloom for the British Business, I say their pants are on fire. Let’s say knickers to the pessimists, knickers to all those who talk Britain down.” Getty Images

Under Ed Miliband, Labour flip-flopped on the issue of immigration leading eventually to those “controls on immigration” mugs and a promise to deal with people’s concerns and offering concrete plans on people coming to the UK. Labour also lost that election in 2015.

The incoming Austrian President took a clear stance on immigration during his election campaign: he stressed the social responsibility of his nation to integrate its existing 90,000 refugees. He won that election.

Taking a firm pro-migration stance could give Corbyn his Van der Bellen moment. If he stands his ground in 2020 and offers a message that acknowledges but tackles racist and xenophobic sentiment – while also facing up to the economic concerns that have led migrants to be scapegoated in Britain – then he may be onto something.

The key for Corbyn is to address the myths surrounding immigration and to change the narrative it inspires. Worried about your housing situation? That’s not because your Polish neighbours are stealing all the social housing, it’s down to a lack of investment in local authority housing stock. Don’t know who your neighbours are? If we had security of employment and income, perhaps they wouldn’t be forced to move area every year to find work.

Both immigrants and blue-collar workers are disproportionately affected by the relocation of production, cheap labour markets, wage stagnation, precarious or short-term employment, housing shortages and poorly-funded public services.

If Britain remains in the EU, Labour will be able to ride the wave of cheery internationalism and push that message forward. But if we leave, and the dire IMF and Bank of England warnings of an economic slump come to pass, there will be plenty of disgruntled voters out there to bring on side.