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Jeremy Corbyn makes Labour case for staying in EU | Jeremy Corbyn makes Labour case for staying in EU |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Jeremy Corbyn has set out the "socialist case" for remaining in the EU in his first major intervention in the referendum campaign. | |
The Labour leader said the party "overwhelmingly" backs EU membership despite its "shortcomings". | The Labour leader said the party "overwhelmingly" backs EU membership despite its "shortcomings". |
And he argued that Britain must remain in, to fight for reform. | And he argued that Britain must remain in, to fight for reform. |
He cited protection of workers' rights, environmental standards and consumer safeguards as reasons to vote to Remain on 23 June. | He cited protection of workers' rights, environmental standards and consumer safeguards as reasons to vote to Remain on 23 June. |
In a speech in central London, Mr Corbyn said: "Over the years I have been critical of many decisions taken by the EU, and I remain critical of its shortcomings; from its lack of democratic accountability to the institutional pressure to deregulate or privatise public services. | In a speech in central London, Mr Corbyn said: "Over the years I have been critical of many decisions taken by the EU, and I remain critical of its shortcomings; from its lack of democratic accountability to the institutional pressure to deregulate or privatise public services. |
"So Europe needs to change. But that change can only come from working with our allies in the EU. It's perfectly possible to be critical and still be convinced we need to remain a member." | "So Europe needs to change. But that change can only come from working with our allies in the EU. It's perfectly possible to be critical and still be convinced we need to remain a member." |
EU referendum: In depth | EU referendum: In depth |
In quotes: Jeremy Corbyn on the EU and referendum | In quotes: Jeremy Corbyn on the EU and referendum |
EU for beginners: A guide | EU for beginners: A guide |
UK and the EU: Better off out or in? | UK and the EU: Better off out or in? |
Who's who: The Vote Leave team | Who's who: The Vote Leave team |
Who's who: The Remain campaign | Who's who: The Remain campaign |
He added: "There is a strong socialist case for staying in the European Union, just as there is also a powerful socialist case for reform and progressive change in Europe." | |
Asked why he had been converted to the EU cause, after speaking against it so many times in the past and voting to come out in the 1975 referendum, he said the Labour Party and trade unions had "overwhelmingly" decided to back EU membership "and that's the party I lead and that's the position I am putting forward". | |
But he said there was "nothing half-hearted" about Labour's campaign and said he would continue to make the case for membership in the run up to polling day. | |
On immigration, he said he did not think "too many people" had come to the UK from the rest of the EU and the real problem was "unscrupulous" employers "undercutting" wages. | |
He also praised EU regulations on holiday entitlement, maternity leave and other workers' rights and said a Labour government would have done more at an EU level to save the British steel industry by backing European Commission proposals to impose import tariffs on Chinese steel imports. | |
And he backed EU action on tax avoidance, accusing the Leave campaign of wanting to make Britain "the safe haven of choice for the ill-gotten gains of every dodgy oligarch, dictator or rogue corporation". | |
Analysis, BBC political correspondent Ben Wright | Analysis, BBC political correspondent Ben Wright |
The Remain campaign believes mobilising Labour voters behind their cause will be crucial. | The Remain campaign believes mobilising Labour voters behind their cause will be crucial. |
Earlier this week the shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC he and Jeremy Corbyn had to do more. | Earlier this week the shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC he and Jeremy Corbyn had to do more. |
But many Labour MPs worry their leader's enthusiasm for the European Union is tepid, at best. | But many Labour MPs worry their leader's enthusiasm for the European Union is tepid, at best. |
During the leadership campaign he admitted to "mixed feelings" about the EU and voted against the Lisbon Treaty in 2008. | During the leadership campaign he admitted to "mixed feelings" about the EU and voted against the Lisbon Treaty in 2008. |
In his speech Mr Corbyn said the Labour Party was "overwhelmingly" in favour of staying in but he also remained critical of some of its "shortcomings". | |
Mr Corbyn told the audience of Labour supporters: "You cannot build a better world unless you engage with the world, build allies and deliver change. The EU, warts and all, has proved itself to be a crucial international framework to do that. | |
"That is why I will be am backing Britain to remain in Europe and I hope you will too." | |
The Labour leader was heckled by a Conservative voter during his speech. Stephen Wolstenholme, who was filming the event for his YouTube channel, interrupted Mr Corbyn to claim environmental regulations could be improved on a UK level. | |
'Disappointed' | |
After the speech, Mr Wolstenholme said he was a supporter of the Labour Out campaign and wanted to see Mr Corbyn give a "Tony Benn-style left wing case for coming out". | |
The Labour leader has also been criticised by Labour supporters of the Leave campaign. | |
Labour donor John Mills, deputy chairman of Vote Leave's board, told BBC Breakfast: "I am a bit disappointed that Jeremy Corbyn is coming out so strongly in favour of staying in, partly because I don't think that's really where quite a large proportion of Labour support is." | |
MP Gisela Stuart, who co-chairs Vote Leave - which also includes London mayor Boris Johnson and Justice Secretary Michael Gove - has said workers' rights have been "hard won" in the UK, not Europe. | |
She has also warned that the eurozone economies are a "ticking time bomb" that will harm the UK if it stays in the EU. | She has also warned that the eurozone economies are a "ticking time bomb" that will harm the UK if it stays in the EU. |
"If we want to take back control of our economy, our democracy and the £350m we hand to Brussels each week the only safe option is to Vote Leave," she said | |
Ahead of the EU referendum campaign's official beginning on Friday, Vote Leave and Britain Stronger in Europe have been designated as the official Leave and Remain campaigns by the Electoral Commission. | |
Meanwhile, Leave.EU - a supporter of pro-exit group Grassroots Out which lost out to Vote Leave - will announce by noon on Thursday whether it intends to launch a judicial review of the Commission's decision. |