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Senior Labour party figures are holding a crunch manifesto meeting amid pressure to establish a clear policy on immigration.
Jeremy Corbyn, his shadow cabinet and trade unions will be among those hammering out the final details in a central London location later today.
The party has already announced a number of policies, including free broadband and extra spending on infrastructure.
However, immigration has re-emerged as a key general election battleground, with critics demanding a clear policy from Labour on free movement.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Corbyn faces a frontbench split, referring to claims that a draft version of Labour’s manifesto contains a commitment to freedom of movement.
The newspaper quoted a shadow cabinet source as saying: ‘If we maintain a close relationship with the single market then we are going to have to maintain freedom of movement. That’s a given.’
Some within Labour are concerned that a more open policy on immigration could alienate voters in Leave areas.
Len McCluskey – the leader the biggest Labour-supporting union Unite – has called for new employment policies to address concerns about immigration.
Corbyn has previously committed to a ‘fair immigration process’ which could include looking at whether freedom of movement will continue in the event of the UK leaving the EU.
Amid tensions within the party, The Independent reported that policies of extending free movement and giving foreign nationals the right to vote in all UK elections are expected to be watered down or scrapped.
Asked about the reports, a spokeswoman for Labour said: ‘We didn’t provide any guidance for them ahead of the manifesto and won’t be for others.’
With the meeting just hours away, the Liberal Democrats challenged Corbyn to commit to preserving free movement.
Lib Dem shadow home secretary Christine Jardine said: ‘Jeremy Corbyn must make a cast-iron commitment in Labour’s manifesto to preserve free movement.
‘Failure to do so would be a betrayal of future generations and of the millions of voters across the country who want their right to free movement defended.’
Priti Patel also attacked Labour’s immigration policy, claiming net migration would ‘surge’ under a government led by Jeremy Corbyn.
The Home Secretary said their analysis of the opposition party’s plans showed net migration would rise to 840,000 per year.
However, Corbyn accused the Tories of ‘fabricating’ the figures.
So far Labour has announced a plan to create a publicly-owned broadband entity to deliver free full-fibre internet to the entire nation, a £26 billion rescue deal to save the NHS and rising minimum wage.
On Friday, Corbyn confirmed an existing pledge to abolish university tuition fees will be included in the party’s manifesto for the 12 December poll.
He also said bringing Royal Mail, rail and water utilities under public ownership ‘are clearly going to be in our manifesto next week’.
However, the full details of the manifesto will remain tightly-sealed until the formal unveiling on a date next week.
With less than a month to go before voters head to the polls, other parties have begun announcing policies ahead of the official launch of their manifestos.
On Saturday, both the Lib Dems and the Conservatives made rival pledges on tree planting.
The Conservatives also announced £500m of funding over the next five years to help support developing countries in protecting oceans.
More: Labour Party
