Labour’s plans to keep free movement pose a ‘security risk’ to the UK by letting criminals and terrorists cross the border, Tory minister Brandon Lewis warns
- Conservative security minister Brandon Lewis savaged Labour’s borders policy
- Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he wants ‘a lot of movement’ after Brexit
- Outside the EU, the UK will be free to impose tougher border rules, Tories say
Security minister Brandon Lewis (pictured) savaged Labour’s borders policy, warning it would leave our boundaries wide open
Jeremy Corbyn’s plans to keep free movement are ‘a threat to national security’ – and would let serious criminals and terrorists enter the UK, a senior Tory warns today.
In a major intervention 24 hours before the polls open, security minister Brandon Lewis savaged Labour’s borders policy, warning it would leave our boundaries wide open.
He published a detailed dossier highlighting 20 terrorists who would be ‘free to enter the UK under Jeremy Corbyn’.
The dossier also issued a list of EU nationals who either entered the country despite having criminal records and committed further offences, or who could not be deported after offending in the UK.
Labour’s manifesto suggests the party will maintain free movement rules as part of its proposed new Brexit deal.
Mr Corbyn has said he wants ‘a lot of movement’ after Brexit.
Senior Tories argue that would mean that under the party’s proposed second Brexit referendum, voters would be denied the choice of tighter immigration controls.
It also means the UK would be forced to keep swallowing EU laws which put obstacles in the way of keeping out convicted criminals – even those who have committed serious crimes.
Jeremy Corbyn has said he wants ‘a lot of movement’ after Brexit. Senior Tories argue that would mean that under the party’s proposed second Brexit referendum, voters would be denied the choice of tighter immigration controls
But outside the EU, the UK will be free to impose tougher rules on who is let into the country, the Conservatives said.
Mr Lewis argued: ‘Free movement with the EU is plainly a threat to our national security, and Jeremy Corbyn has made clear that he will maintain free movement in all circumstances.’
But Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott hit back: ‘This is more nonsense from the fake-news Tories.
‘EU migrants are propping up our struggling NHS and social care systems. To conflate them with terrorists is just more vile racism from the Tories.’