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Jeremy Corbyn makes Labour case for staying in EU Jeremy Corbyn makes Labour case for staying in EU
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn has set out the "socialist case" for remaining in the EU in his first major intervention in the referendum campaign. Jeremy Corbyn has urged Labour supporters to vote to remain in the EU despite its "shortcomings" in his first major speech of the campaign.
The Labour leader said the party "overwhelmingly" backs EU membership despite its "shortcomings". The Labour leader cited workers rights, environmental standards and consumer safeguards as benefits of membership.
And he argued that Britain must remain in, to fight for reform. He stood by his past criticism of the EU but argued Britain must remain in to fight for social reform.
He cited protection of workers' rights, environmental standards and consumer safeguards as reasons to vote to Remain on 23 June. And he said he did not think free movement rules had led to "too many people" coming to the UK.
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. Labour Leave supporters said he was not reflecting the views of many Labour voters - despite his claim that the "overwhelming" majority of the party and the big trade unions backed membership.
"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 depthEU referendum: In depth
In quotes: Jeremy Corbyn on the EU and referendumIn quotes: Jeremy Corbyn on the EU and referendum
EU for beginners: A guideEU 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 teamWho's who: The Vote Leave team
Who's who: The Remain campaignWho'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." Mr Corbyn set out an alternative, "socialist" vision for Britain in Europe to the one being promoted by Prime Minister David Cameron, who will need the support of Labour voters to win 23 June's referendum.
Asked about concerns over high levels of immigration, something Mr Cameron has focused on, he said: "There is nothing wrong with people migrating to work across the continent but there has to be a level playing field on pay and conditions. What we have is unscrupulous employers doing that."
He also addressed his previous Euroscepticism, saying: "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."
He added that he had been critical of Labour in recent years but that did not mean he did not support it.
David Cameron, campaigning with former Labour leader Lord Kinnock and former Lib Dem Lord Ashdown at remain campaign headquarters, said: "I absolutely welcome Jeremy Corbyn's intervention.
"There are lots of things we disagree about, between Labour, Liberals, Greens and others, but the fact is we all come together to support the idea of Britain staying in a reformed European Union."
But Labour MP Kate Hoey, who is campaigning for an out vote, said many Labour voters shared her view and would "see through" Mr Corbyn's speech.
"We know first of all, that he doesn't really mean it, no matter how much he tries to pretend he does, and secondly, that it is not in the interest of the Labour movement," she told the BBC News channel.
In his speech, Mr Corbyn argued that there was "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".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.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.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".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 WrightAnalysis, 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".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.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.""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.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".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.
"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.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.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.