The reason being that
free movement of labour between member states (one the EU's four freedoms) permitted large - scale migration from East to West, which is alleged to have had impacts such as bidding down the wages of low - skilled workers, and increasing crime.
Not exact matches
RM: These are all laudable aims for
Labour, but Corbyn does not give much detail on the central question
of the Brexit negotiations: the trade - off
between the single market and
free movement.
I don't see how it can be logical to support
free labour movement between a bunch
of countries linked only by a degree
of geographical proximity and a good deal
of mutual enmity, but to oppose it for everyone else.
In the past,
Labour spokespeople have said they will accept the end
of free movement when the transitional period finishes, but phrases such as «easy
movement» have been bandied about - possibly an agreement that citizens could move
between the UK and EU with minimum red tape to take up job offers, but not simply to look for work.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer has not ruled out continuing with
free movement of people
between the UK and the EU in some form after Brexit, under
Labour's plans, but he told BBC News it would have to be negotiated - as would any financial contribution the UK would make.