LABOUR leadership contender Sir Keir Starmer risked infuriating Brexiteers by pledging to reintroduce free movement if he wins the party crown.
The race frontrunner pledged to reverse PM Boris Johnsons clampdown on unrestricted European immigration in a speech to mark exit day.
Sir Keir Starmer vows to reverse Boris Johnson’s immigration clampdown and reintroduce free movement
And he also demanded the vote in general elections for the three million EU nationals living here.
The Shadow Brexit secretary said: We welcome migrants, we dont scapegoat them.
Sir Keir, who has been blamed by some for aiding Labours catastrophic election defeat with his Brexit policy, praised the benefits of EU membership in a speech in Westminster Cathedral Hall.
I want people in this country to be able to go and work abroad in Europe. And I want people in Europe to be able to come and work here, he said.
I want families to be able to live together, whether thats in Europe or here, and I want people in this country, in the United Kingdom, to be able to go and study in Europe just as they can now and people in Europe to be able to come and study here.
We have to make the case for freedom of movement.
Asked to clarify if that meant he would restore that right if he was PM, Sir Keir said: Yes, of course, bring back, argue for, challenge.
As the UK entered its final hours formally in the bloc, Sir Keir also called for an end to divisions, saying Leave/Remain ends tonight.
