Free movement of people raises real concerns | Letters

Those who voted for Brexit wanted migration to be managed, say Jonathon Porritt and Colin Hines. But Eric Goodyer voted remain to keep his freedom to work, live and retire anywhere in Europe. Plus John Hall says the benefits system must be reoriented

What those who want to remain in a reformed EU that lessens people's insecurity must grasp is that Brexit voters don't want an apology, they want policies to deal with their desire for managed migration. What is still inadequately understood is that the one upside of the grim rise of the extreme right across Europe since the referendum has been the increasing discussions in the EU about adapting free movement of people with measures to manage migration.

In our new report, The Progressive Case for Taking Control of EU Immigration - and Avoiding Brexit in the Process, on how Brexit can be reversed if progressives actively support these trends, we speculate that if Keir Starmer (on behalf of Jeremy Corbyn), Vince Cable and Caroline Lucas shared this analysis, they would prioritise seeking authentic agreement across the EU to properly acknowledge EU citizens' concerns about migration. This would involve highlighting existing and proposing new measures to help "manage" migration. Then Brexit could be reversed.
Jonathon Porritt and Colin Hines
London

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