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| Lead the EU, don't leave: Gordon Brown heads Labour's push to remain | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Labour’s leading figures will hit the referendum campaign trail afresh on Monday, as Gordon Brown launches a final 10-day push to prevent Britain leaving the EU. | Labour’s leading figures will hit the referendum campaign trail afresh on Monday, as Gordon Brown launches a final 10-day push to prevent Britain leaving the EU. |
| The former prime minister will use a speech in Leicester to set out a series of reforms he believes Britain could achieve when it takes over the EU presidency of the council of ministers in the second half of next year, including help for communities facing a rapid influx of migrants. | The former prime minister will use a speech in Leicester to set out a series of reforms he believes Britain could achieve when it takes over the EU presidency of the council of ministers in the second half of next year, including help for communities facing a rapid influx of migrants. |
| “I think in the next 10 days, the motto of at least the Labour campaigners should be not to leave the EU, but to lead it,” Brown told Sky News. | “I think in the next 10 days, the motto of at least the Labour campaigners should be not to leave the EU, but to lead it,” Brown told Sky News. |
| He has already shared the proposals with his old foe David Cameron, who is keen to secure Labour’s support to secure a remain vote on 23 June. Brown said he had discussed campaign strategy with Labour’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn; its deputy leader, Tom Watson; and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell. | He has already shared the proposals with his old foe David Cameron, who is keen to secure Labour’s support to secure a remain vote on 23 June. Brown said he had discussed campaign strategy with Labour’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn; its deputy leader, Tom Watson; and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell. |
| The shadow foreign secretary, Hilary Benn, will also make a speech setting out the “patriotic case” for Britain to remain in the EU on Monday, and senior Labour women including Angela Eagle and Emily Thornberry will tour the West Midlands. | The shadow foreign secretary, Hilary Benn, will also make a speech setting out the “patriotic case” for Britain to remain in the EU on Monday, and senior Labour women including Angela Eagle and Emily Thornberry will tour the West Midlands. |
| With the referendum less than a fortnight away, the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign believes that between a third and half of Labour supporters have not yet made up their minds about how to vote, and won’t be convinced by being urged to back the status quo. | With the referendum less than a fortnight away, the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign believes that between a third and half of Labour supporters have not yet made up their minds about how to vote, and won’t be convinced by being urged to back the status quo. |
| “There is everything to play for, and Labour will campaign across the country to mobilise Labour voters to back remain,” said a senior Labour source. | “There is everything to play for, and Labour will campaign across the country to mobilise Labour voters to back remain,” said a senior Labour source. |
| McDonnell has said it is now up to Labour to win the closely fought referendum. “I want to stay within, but I want it to be Labour voices in the next 10 days to save this campaign,” he said. | McDonnell has said it is now up to Labour to win the closely fought referendum. “I want to stay within, but I want it to be Labour voices in the next 10 days to save this campaign,” he said. |
| Labour voters are deemed crucial to preventing Britain from leaving the EU, and the party is planning a succession of events next week. Number 10 is also clearing the airwaves for a series of Labour speeches and media appearances. | Labour voters are deemed crucial to preventing Britain from leaving the EU, and the party is planning a succession of events next week. Number 10 is also clearing the airwaves for a series of Labour speeches and media appearances. |
| Appearing on ITV’s Peston on Sunday, McDonnell, who has coined the phrase “Tory Brexit” to spell out the risks to Labour voters of leaving the EU, said: “I’m where most people are at at the moment in terms of I’m fed up of project fear on both sides. I think what’s been happening is there have been exaggerated claims on both sides and that’s turned people off.” | Appearing on ITV’s Peston on Sunday, McDonnell, who has coined the phrase “Tory Brexit” to spell out the risks to Labour voters of leaving the EU, said: “I’m where most people are at at the moment in terms of I’m fed up of project fear on both sides. I think what’s been happening is there have been exaggerated claims on both sides and that’s turned people off.” |
| The latest such warning came from David Cameron over the weekend, when he suggested the “triple lock” that protects the value of the basic state pension and ringfences the NHS budget, could be under threat in the event that Britain leaves. | |
| McDonnell said despite his own doubts about the way the EU is run, leaving now would be “a risk too far” that could hit jobs. | McDonnell said despite his own doubts about the way the EU is run, leaving now would be “a risk too far” that could hit jobs. |
| “I just look at my constituency. I don’t want to lose jobs in my constituency, I don’t want wages undercut, and I don’t want anything putting people’s pensions at risk. There could be that risk. This is a big leap in the dark,” he said. “I have listened to all the economists on all sides, and the general view is this is a risk too far.” | “I just look at my constituency. I don’t want to lose jobs in my constituency, I don’t want wages undercut, and I don’t want anything putting people’s pensions at risk. There could be that risk. This is a big leap in the dark,” he said. “I have listened to all the economists on all sides, and the general view is this is a risk too far.” |
| There have been repeated calls from senior figures in Labour for Corbyn to make the case for Britain to remain in the EU more forcefully, But McDonnell said Labour’s arguments had sometimes been drowned out by the media’s preoccupation with the divisions in the Conservative party. | There have been repeated calls from senior figures in Labour for Corbyn to make the case for Britain to remain in the EU more forcefully, But McDonnell said Labour’s arguments had sometimes been drowned out by the media’s preoccupation with the divisions in the Conservative party. |
| Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, became the latest public figure to add his voice to those calling for a remain vote at the weekend, saying Britain should be “a country for the world” and not “succumb to our worst instincts” over immigration. | Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, became the latest public figure to add his voice to those calling for a remain vote at the weekend, saying Britain should be “a country for the world” and not “succumb to our worst instincts” over immigration. |