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Gordon Brown says quitting EU would not be British Gordon Brown says quitting EU would not be British
(about 1 hour later)
It would not be British to quit the EU and retreat to the periphery, ex-prime minister Gordon Brown has warned. Gordon Brown has thrown his weight behind the campaign to stay in the EU, claiming it is "not British to retreat to Europe's sidelines".
In his first major intervention in the EU referendum, he said the UK must stop being "reluctant Europeans" and shape the continent's responses to terrorism, immigration and climate change. The former prime minister argued that Britain needed to be in the EU to shape the continent's responses to terrorism, immigration and climate change.
Claims the UK was "losing its identity" must be challenged, he told the Mirror. And it was "not in tune with the Churchillian spirit" to "disengage".
Leave campaigners said Mr Brown's arguments "rang hollow" as he had a "disastrous record" while in office.Leave campaigners said Mr Brown's arguments "rang hollow" as he had a "disastrous record" while in office.
The British public will decide in a referendum on 23 June whether to remain in the EU or to leave.The British public will decide in a referendum on 23 June whether to remain in the EU or to leave.
With just over seix weeks until the vote campaigning has been stepped up this week - in other EU referendum developments on Wednesday: With just over six weeks until the vote campaigning has been stepped up - in other EU referendum developments on Wednesday:
Arguments for and against the UK's continued membership have, in recent days, focused on the issues of defence, security, immigration and the economy with senior Conservatives on both sides of the argument making their cases.Arguments for and against the UK's continued membership have, in recent days, focused on the issues of defence, security, immigration and the economy with senior Conservatives on both sides of the argument making their cases.
Ahead of a speech backing Remain at the London School of Economics, Mr Brown used articles in the Mirror and the Guardian to argue that Britain must be at the heart of European policy making.Ahead of a speech backing Remain at the London School of Economics, Mr Brown used articles in the Mirror and the Guardian to argue that Britain must be at the heart of European policy making.
Mr Brown, who rejected calls to join the euro when he was chancellor in the 1990s, told the Mirror Britain's relationship with the EU had "always been about the benefits we can achieve in jobs, security and quality of life and how these benefits outweigh any disadvantages". Mr Brown, who has been credited with stopping Britain joining the euro when he was chancellor in the 1990s, he told the Mirror the British must stop being "reluctant Europeans" and shape the continent's responses to terrorism, immigration and climate change.
Britain's relationship with the EU had "always been about the benefits we can achieve in jobs, security and quality of life and how these benefits outweigh any disadvantages".
"We must surely start from our needs and aspirations as British people rather than from the supposed virtues of the European Union and its institutions," he wrote."We must surely start from our needs and aspirations as British people rather than from the supposed virtues of the European Union and its institutions," he wrote.
He said the UK had had a tendency to "downplay" its role in Europe since World War Two choosing instead to "cling to" the special relationship with the US.He said the UK had had a tendency to "downplay" its role in Europe since World War Two choosing instead to "cling to" the special relationship with the US.
"Let's face it. Across half a century we have become reluctant Europeans. We didn't understand there was a new world in the making where influence mattered."Let's face it. Across half a century we have become reluctant Europeans. We didn't understand there was a new world in the making where influence mattered.
"Surely in a world that is getting smaller, being in Europe enables us to play a part in shaping something bigger than ourselves.""Surely in a world that is getting smaller, being in Europe enables us to play a part in shaping something bigger than ourselves."
'Churchillian spirit''Churchillian spirit'
He said the UK must be at the forefront at efforts to reform the single market, bring peace and prosperity to the Middle East, curb illegal immigration, step up the fight against terrorism and push for greater co-ordination of energy policy to better exploit natural resources.He said the UK must be at the forefront at efforts to reform the single market, bring peace and prosperity to the Middle East, curb illegal immigration, step up the fight against terrorism and push for greater co-ordination of energy policy to better exploit natural resources.
"I think most people would agree that it's not British or in tune with the Churchillian spirit to simply disengage when Ukraine is in turmoil. It is not British to retreat to Europe's sidelines when there is a common fight against illegal immigration and terrorism."I think most people would agree that it's not British or in tune with the Churchillian spirit to simply disengage when Ukraine is in turmoil. It is not British to retreat to Europe's sidelines when there is a common fight against illegal immigration and terrorism.
"It is certainly not British... to allow ourselves to be on the periphery when important defence and security decisions are made, not only in Nato but in the European Union.""It is certainly not British... to allow ourselves to be on the periphery when important defence and security decisions are made, not only in Nato but in the European Union."
In a separate article for the Guardian, Mr Brown urges the EU to use its clout to take concerted action tax havens.In a separate article for the Guardian, Mr Brown urges the EU to use its clout to take concerted action tax havens.
In response, a Vote Leave spokesman said: "Gordon Brown was in a government that gave away part of our rebate and opened our borders across the EU. Lessons on the patriotic case for the EU will ring hollow from a prime minister with such a disastrous record in Europe."In response, a Vote Leave spokesman said: "Gordon Brown was in a government that gave away part of our rebate and opened our borders across the EU. Lessons on the patriotic case for the EU will ring hollow from a prime minister with such a disastrous record in Europe."
Boris Johnson will kick start a UK-wide bus tour in Cornwall, a part of the country that has historically been eurosceptic.Boris Johnson will kick start a UK-wide bus tour in Cornwall, a part of the country that has historically been eurosceptic.
Mr Johnson and other leading Leave campaigners have been seeking to highlight what they say is the paucity of David Cameron's EU renegotiation, with former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith arguing the EU is harming the low paid widening inequality.Mr Johnson and other leading Leave campaigners have been seeking to highlight what they say is the paucity of David Cameron's EU renegotiation, with former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith arguing the EU is harming the low paid widening inequality.