Analysis: It is wrong to say that the Labour manifesto is silent on Brexit. However, it will disappoint Labour remainers looking for a stronger commitment to staying in the single market while not particularly reassuring leave voters that the party is dedicated to delivering Brexit.
Immigration
What the manifesto says: No false promises on immigration numbers as the economy ‘needs migrant workers to keep going’. A desire to see “fair and managed migration”. That means scrapping £18,500 income threshold for UK citizens to bring non-European spouses to Britain that has led to separation of thousands of families. A migrant impact fund will be established to finance public services under additional pressure financed by existing visa levy.
Analysis: The manifesto implies Labour would scrap the Tories’ net migration target without giving any hint of its future approach to European migration post-Brexit, especially whether EU citizens will face a similar skills-based visa system that exists for non-EU citizens. The promise of a migrant impact fund is a long-standing Labour promise which has been matched by the Conservatives.
