Jeremy Corbyn refuses to commit Labour to continuing freedom of movement after Brexit

Labour leader says Britain 'cannot exisit in isolation' but backs away from current policy

Jeremy Corbyn has refused to say that Labour would continue freedom of movement after Brexit, despite it being the party's current policy.

Mr Corbyn promised that a Labour government would allow "a great deal of movement" between countries, but would not confirm that the party's manifesto, set to be released this week, would continue the its commitment to "maintain and extend free movement rights".

Labour's policy on immigration has been the subject of a disagreement between senior party figures in recent days, with trade union leaders such as Len McCluskey of Unite insisting that the party must not promise more freedom of movement, while shadow cabinet ministers such as Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, and John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, defended the policy.

Mr Corbyn also refused to say whether he wanted the UK to leave the EU, insisting that Labour would leave it up to voters to decide whether Brexit went ahead.

Labour's shadow cabinet, its ruling executive committee and trade union leaders met on Saturday to hammer out its manifesto policy, which is believed to emphasise the benefits of migration but without pledging to continue free movement.

On Sunday, Mr Corbyn hinted that Labour would adopt a liberal approach to immigration, warning that the UK "cannot exist in isolation" and promising that there would be "a great deal of movement" under a Labour government.

However, he stopped short of saying he would seek to maintain the current free movement rights that Britain enjoys as a member of the EU.

Labour's annual conference in September agreed that the party should "maintain and extend free movement rights."

Ditching the policy would anger grassroots activists, who fought hard to get the motion passed by the gathering.

The approach marked a significant shift from the 2017 general election, when Labour pledged that it would end freedom of movement after Brexit.

Asked what policy would be in the new manifesto, set to be released on Thursday, Mr Corbyn told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "There are huge economic demands in this country. We have 40,000 nurse vacancies in the NHS, partly because so many European Union nationals have left, [and] we have a shortage of doctors because so many have left because of uncertainty.

"We cannot exist in isolation and therefore there has to be migration into Britain in order to maintain our economy and our services and that will be reflected in the policy which you will see on Thursday."

However, he appeared to back away from the conference policy of extending free movement, insisting that the authors of the motion had intended it to apply only to the rights of people already in the UK to bring their families to live with them.

He said: "I think the movers of the motion had in mind the questions of family reunion of people from both the European Union and other parts of the world as well.

"Because what you have is people that wholly, legitimately, make their homes and their contribution here but have an artificial income level put on them if they're allowed to bring partners or children into this country."

Asked if he agreed with the wording of the motion, he said: "I agree with the principle that there has to be the right of family reunion - there has to be that right of joining your spouse or whatever in this country."

In a sign that Labour's manifesto will promise a liberal approach to migration even if freedom of movement in its current form ends, Mr Corbyn launched a passionate defence of immigrants, saying: "There also has to be a recognition that our economy and our society has been enriched massively by people that have made their homes here and no Labour government led by me will bring in a hostile environment such as Theresa May brought in."

He added: "My instinct is to recognise that economies are interdependent around the world, that we all benefit from people moving to and living in and working in different societies and we benefit massively from the vast number of overseas students that come here.

"I don't want to turn my back on that, I don't want us to become an isolated society. I'm proud of the diversity of our society and our country and I want that to be a basis of how we live."

Asked whether he wanted to see Brexit happen, he repeatedly refused to answer and simply repeated Labour's policy of renegotiating the current Brexit deal and then putting it to the public in a referendum, with Remain as the other option.

He said: "I want a close decision with the the EU in the future and we will put that decision to the British people and I will abide by that decision."