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Labour put in their manifesto to end freedom of movement...
Not quite. They say: 'Freedom of movement will end when we leave the European Union.'
This is currently a fact--never mind that the EU insist that FOM is a key component of the single market. Labour are not in power and don't currently have to say much about what they would do in the negotiations. At least in this text they don't make any specific policy commitments on FOM. They don't say that Labour will end freedom of movement. Obviously, their target is an end to worker exploitation, but when they talk about fair(er) immigration rules here, they don't say that they definitely want to replace FOM with said rules, but rather that, given the current situation--the UK will leave the EU, the Tories are definitely committed to ending FOM, etc.--, should Labour gain power they would work on the immigration system, as fleshed out by Diane Abbott this week. It's a set of subtle differences but cleverly worded to allow Labour flexibility, perhaps, as you say, to react to grassroots pressure, but mostly, I think, not to be drawn into a situation in which the Tories can build up 'Brexit' as a major difference. As in the last general election, Labour want to define that difference through all the other parts of their (popular) manifesto.
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Tx for the correction.
Labours new immigration policy is closer to Canada's. I think that is a good change.
I still don't get the need for complex systems as the EU one is just "you have a job?" I suppose it is to quell wage undercutting, and perhaps this is rarer in Canada.
Or people just get driven into illegality. See the USA and Mexican workers paying taxes yet not getting a status.
https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/what-is-labour-policy-on-brexit
So mixed sounds. Either it is strategy or fence sitting, it doesn't matter to me but I'd welcome a position.
Again fighting exploitation is good. But ending FOM can actually make it worse unless labour does implement their easy system.
I just have to hope it turns around, they get a position on a second vote / EU position plan with no unicorns.
Labour put in their manifesto to end freedom of movement...
https://labour.org.uk/manifesto/negotiating-brexit/
If they faff about and try to get exemptions the EU won't give to anyone like a single market with no fom it's not going to help.
I still think they may be open to change though and their grass roots activists are busy asking for a people's vote etc.
Mogg only listens his bank account.