Labour plot to KEEP free movement: Thornberry will not 'sweep ANYTHING off Brexit table'
LABOUR may fight to keep freedom of movement even after Britain leaves the European Union (EU), it has been revealed.
Emily Thornberry: We need to look again at freedom of movement
Emily Thornberry last night refused to “sweep anything off the table” during the UK’s Brexit negotiations with Brussels.
Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow first secretary of state let slip the Labour plot during an interview on Newsnight.
She refused to rule out keeping free movement in exchange for securing single market membership for the UK.
Ms Thornberry did concede more needed to be done to regulate free movement but showed little indication wanting to shut it down once Britain leaves the EU.
Brexit news: Emily Thornberry refused to rule out free movement even after the UK leaves the EU
After being asked whether free movement should be accepted in order to remain in the single market, Ms Thornberry said: “Nothing is being swept off the table.
“What we are saying is that we need to look again at freedom of movement. We need to make sure that we have fair rules and managed migration and we will be negotiating with the European Union whereby we do need to have changes to our rules.”
She admitted, in its current state, freedom of movement could not continue as it was even if it did secure single market membership.
Ms Thornberry said: “Nobody pretends that there is not a problem with staying in the Single Market if the interpretation of freedom of movement is as it has been until now.”
It came after the Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury got personal during her keynote speech at the Labour Party conference.
She hit out at Boris Johnson during a jibe-ridden speech, mockingly telling him to go on Jeremy Kyle in order to prove his ownership of the £350m-to-the-NHS Brexit pledge.
Brexit news: Emily Thornberry with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the party conference
To gales of laughter from the crowd in Brighton, Ms Thornberry said: “Let’s all take a second to sympathise with poor old Boris. Come on, just a second.
“He’s not been happy lately. Apparently, he’s sick of being blamed for the way Brexit is going and all the broken promises of the Leave campaign.
“I’m sorry, what? Like, what? Who does he think made all those promises? Who does he think was in charge of the Leave campaign?
Brexit news: Emily Thornberry dropped the free movement bombshell on Newsnight
Maybe we should take him into a studio with Jeremy Kyle?
“I know that Boris does not like paternity tests, but maybe we need one for Brexit. Maybe we should take him into a studio with Jeremy Kyle?
“‘I’m sorry, Mr Johnson, we got the results back, and it looks like this one is one of yours. It must have been that wild night out you had with Michael Gove.
"'And I’ve calculated your maintenance payments. And that will be £350 million a week.’”