EU referendum: Michael Gove says European rules left UK powerless to stop terror suspects

The Justice Secretary said he was frustrated at Britain’s "inability to refuse entry to those with a criminal record and even some who are suspected of terrorist links"

Michael Gove's comments will intensify the debate over the security of Britain’s borders (Carl Court/Getty Images)

The Justice Secretary Michael Gove has claimed that the Government had been forced to allow terror suspects to enter Britain because European Union rules left them powerless to prevent them from travelling here.

Mr Gove said that during his time in the Cabinet he "experienced frustration" at Britain’s "inability to refuse entry to those with a criminal record and even some who are suspected of terrorist links".

While Mr Gove’s department does not have direct responsibility for policing Britain’s borders he would have been privy to Cabinet discussions on such issues.

He is known to have clashed with the Home Secretary Theresa May and wanted a broader definition of "extremism" to apply when considered who should be banned from entering Britain.

Setting out his vision for Britain outside of the EU, Mr Gove said that in the days after a Brexit, the Government would pass "emergency measures to curb the baleful influence" of the European Court of Justice.

"As Justice Secretary, I have experienced the frustration at our inability to refuse entry to those with a criminal record and even some who are suspected of terrorist links," Mr Gove said in an essay about a Brexit.

His comments will intensify the debate over the security of Britain’s borders.

However pro-EU campaigners have pointed out that any illegal immigrants arriving in the UK from mainland Europe can, at the moment, be returned.

That would no longer be the case if we pulled out of the EU.

Meanwhile David Cameron is preparing to take part in his first debate of the referendum campaign, during which he is likely to face questions about Britain's control over its borders.

At the same time George Osborne and Alistair Darling have accused the Leave campaign of having "uncosted and unworkable proposals" that are "dangerous" for the British economy.

The news comes as the boss of one of Britain’s biggest unions said Jeremy Corbyn must be "bolder and braver" in making the case for immigration in the UK if he is to win over Labour voters to the cause of remaining in the EU.

Tim Roache, who is a key Corbyn backer, told the Guardian he was concerned that the Labour leader was being "mealy mouthed" about an issue that he said was front and centre for many voters.

"We have to confront the real issues in the minds of working people, and whether we like it or not, that is immigration and the free movement of labour," he said.

"I think Labour needs to be a bit more bold, it needs to be a bit more brave, in taking on the issues in working people’s minds, rather than keeping silent about them, and I think that’s what Labour’s done for too long."