Immigration control not more important than jobs in Brexit deal, says Keir Starmer

Labour would prioritise economic issues over immigration in Brexit negotiations, according to Keir Starmer.

The party’s Brexit spokesperson said that Theresa May has made a “mistake” in making control of immigration the number one issue, although accepted that leaving the EU would mean changes to freedom to movement.

However, he said that new immigration controls should not be considered more important than ensuring the best deal for the UK’s economy. “Economy and jobs come first, as far as we’re concerned,” the Shadow Brexit Secretary said.

Speaking on ITV’s Peston On Sunday show this morning, he said that “we shouldn’t be saying that immigration is more important than jobs.”

“I think the mistake the Prime Minister has made is to make control of immigration the number one priority, and to relegate the economy to a second rank issue,” Starmer added. “That is quite extraordinary.”

The Holborn and St Pancras MP said that Labour’s position is to argue for the “fullest possible access to the Single Market, that is what everybody wants. We accept that immigration was a big issue in the referendum, we accept that there has to be changes to the way the freedom of movement rules operate – that has to be balance with the best access to the Single Market. That’s what the negotiations should be about and that should be the starting position of the Government.”

Starmer laid out that Labour understands that immigration is “a real issue” and accepts that “one of the problems for Labour is that we’ve not been seen to be listening on immigration”, but would not rank it higher than protecting the economy and providing jobs for people.

He also distanced himself from comments made by Tony Blair this week about holding another vote on leaving the EU, saying that “we shouldn’t have another referendum on the same issue.”