Jeremy Corbyn gives another boost to Brexit camp after defending controversial EU rules on free movement

JEREMY Corbyn has given another boost to the Brexit campaign after defending controversial EU rules on free movement of workers across the continent.

And the Labour leader has also opened up a huge rift with his deputy Tom Watson, after the latter called for immigration controls in a bid to win back the party’s voters in the referendum.

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Mr Corbyn is supposed to be helping the Remain camp keep the UK in the European Union on June 23, but his latest comments will do little to help swing Labour supports leaning towards Leave.

He insisted he would "absolutely" defend the rules on freedom of movement, which helped contribute to record UK net migration figures in the past 12 months.

Speaking to BuzzFeed the veteran leftie said: "It's intrinsic to the European Union that there has to be free movement of people."

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The move came after Mr Watson warned concern over immigration could not be ignored, promising to take a look at changing policy.

"Woe betide politicians that don't listen to what voters tell them” he told the BBC.

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“I think we have to reassure people that if they vote Remain on Thursday June 23, that isn't the end of the reform package for Europe.

“You know, I think a future Europe will have to look at things like the free movement of labour rules.”

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But the shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn refused to fully endorse the position of either man as he indicated reforms could be introduced for new member states.

"I think we should look at how the system works,” he told BBC’s Newsnight programme, saying a "debate" was taking place in the party on the issue.

He added: “It will be perfectly within our rights to say, for new member states ... we will determine how free movement applies to those countries, I think that would be a sensible thing to do, and we have the ability to do it because every member state has a veto.”