Alan Johnson and Tom Watson speak out on immigration amid EU poll jitters

Senior Labour figures have moved to tackle supporters’ concerns over EU immigration amid worries the issue has led some of the party’s core vote to back Brexit.

Alan Johnson and Tom Watson both spoke out today after two polls showed a lead for the Leave campaign, which has focussed on immigration, and The Sun newspaper cited free movement as one of its reasons for coming out in favour of Brexit.

Johnson, head of Labour In, said the campaign had been talking about immigration but on some occasions “people haven’t been listening to us” . He also warned any decision to leave the EU would not increase “control” over the number of people entering Britain.

“The argument we’re making is, look, there’s three types of immigration: there’s immigration from outside the EU, there’s illegal immigration, and there’s free movement [of labour]. Of those, free movement gives us the benefit of the single market,” he told the BBC.

“Our argument is remaining part of the single market helps us to control the other two forms of immigration. If we leave, the situation is going to be worse.

“If anyone believes that our UK border in Calais is going to survive us leaving the EU then once again they’re in the realms of fantasy. Of course it won’t, that will make the issue much worse.”

The intervention of Johnson, a former Home Secretary and a widely respected figure across the party, came as Tory ministers appeared to step back from the campaign to allow prominent Labour politicians to lead efforts to persuade left-wing voters to support an In vote in the final days before the June 23 poll.

Johnson’s interview came as Watson called for the EU to reconsider its rules on the free movement of labour to reflect public concern.

The deputy leader, who was part of a shadow Cabinet show of strength for the In campaign today, told the BBC the issue of uncontrolled migration was “coming up on the doorstep” once again.

“I would say that immigration has been the backdrop to every election we’ve had in Britain.

“And you know, woe betide politicians that don’t listen to what voters tell them…

“I think a future Europe will have to look at things like the free movement of labour rules.”