Jeremy Corbyn is to say Labour is not "wedded"
to freedom of movement for EU citizens in the
UK as a "matter of principle", as he sets out his
views on Brexit negotiations.
In a speech, the party leader will argue the UK
"can be better off" after leaving the EU, but add
that he will not allow Theresa May a "free pass".
Mr Corbyn will pledge to push for "fair and
reasonably managed migration".
Mrs May has said Brexit can "change the country
for the better".
With negotiations between the UK government
and the EU set to begin as early as April, there is
much speculation over whether the prime minister
will push for the UK to remain part of the
European single market or opt for a so-called
"hard Brexit" - leaving the single market but
gaining fuller control over immigration.
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In a speech in Peterborough on Tuesday, Mr
Corbyn will say: "We have had no answers from
government about their plans.
"Not since the Second World War has Britain's
ruling elite so recklessly put the country in such
an exposed position without a plan."
The Labour leader will add: "There can be no
question of giving Theresa May's Tories a free
pass in the Brexit negotiations.
"Unlike the Tories, Labour will insist on a Brexit
that works not just for City interests, but in the
interests of us all."
Mr Corbyn is set to promise to "push to maintain
full access to the European single market to
protect living standards and jobs".
But he will emphasise that Labour will "press to
repatriate powers from Brussels for the British
government to develop a genuine industrial
strategy essential for the economy of the future".
'Action on undercutting'
On immigration and free movement of EU citizens
- regarded as a key electoral issue in many
Labour constituencies - Mr Corbyn will say:
"Labour is not wedded to freedom of movement
for EU citizens as a point of principle.
"But nor can we afford to lose full access to the
European markets on which so many British
businesses and jobs depend.
"Changes to the way migration rules operate from
the EU will be part of the negotiations."
Labour will demand "fair rules and reasonably
managed migration" and "take action against
undercutting of pay and conditions by closing
down cheap labour loopholes, banning exclusive
advertising of jobs abroad and strengthening
workplace protections", Mr Corbyn will say.
On Sunday, the prime minister told Sky News it
would not be possible to hold on to "bits" of EU
membership after Brexit, leading to widespread
reporting that she was moving towards leaving
the European single market, with restricting
immigration a priority.
But Mrs May said on Monday that it was "wrong"
to infer that she preferred a so-called "hard
Brexit", adding: "What we're doing is going to get
an ambitious, good and best possible deal for the
United Kingdom in terms of... trading with and
operating within the single European market."
Ahead of Mr Corbyn's speech, Liberal Democrat
leader Tim Farron said his Labour counterpart
was "still no clearer" on immigration.
He added: "He failed to pull a shift to keep us in
the EU before the referendum and now he is
helping Theresa May, [International Trade
Secretary] Liam Fox and [Foreign Secretary] Boris
Johnson yank us out of the single market."
