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| Lead the EU, don't leave: Gordon Brown heads Labour's push to remain | Lead the EU, don't leave: Gordon Brown heads Labour's push to remain |
| (2 months later) | |
| Labour will hit the referendum campaign trail afresh on Monday, as Gordon Brown leads a final 10-day push to prevent Britain leaving the EU. | Labour will hit the referendum campaign trail afresh on Monday, as Gordon Brown leads a final 10-day push to prevent Britain leaving the EU. |
| A speech from the former prime minister, setting out the case to “lead, not leave” will be the centrepiece of a day of events led by Labour but carefully choreographed with No 10, amid fears that without a strong remain verdict from Labour voters the referendum could be lost. | A speech from the former prime minister, setting out the case to “lead, not leave” will be the centrepiece of a day of events led by Labour but carefully choreographed with No 10, amid fears that without a strong remain verdict from Labour voters the referendum could be lost. |
| “From now until 10pm on 23 June, we will not rest and I will not stop explaining why 9 million Labour voters have most to gain from remaining in the EU,” Brown will say. After weeks of warnings about the risks of leaving the EU, Labour now hopes to switch the arguments to the benefits of staying in. | “From now until 10pm on 23 June, we will not rest and I will not stop explaining why 9 million Labour voters have most to gain from remaining in the EU,” Brown will say. After weeks of warnings about the risks of leaving the EU, Labour now hopes to switch the arguments to the benefits of staying in. |
| Brown will use the speech in Leicester to set out 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 action on tax havens and an EU “solidarity fund” to help communities facing a rapid influx of migrants. “Today I am setting out a positive agenda for Labour voters – reasons why Labour voters should vote remain and the patriotic case for remaining in Europe,” he will say. | Brown will use the speech in Leicester to set out 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 action on tax havens and an EU “solidarity fund” to help communities facing a rapid influx of migrants. “Today I am setting out a positive agenda for Labour voters – reasons why Labour voters should vote remain and the patriotic case for remaining in Europe,” he will say. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday before his speech, Brown said Britain had a history of leading in Europe. “Look at the sweep of history,” he said. “Britain led Europe against fascism, Britain created the European convention of human rights, Britain was the leader in persuading eastern Europe to come in to the European Union, Britain has always led the way when things have been difficult in Europe, and I think it’s time that we were a leader again. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday before his speech, Brown said Britain had a history of leading in Europe. “Look at the sweep of history,” he said. “Britain led Europe against fascism, Britain created the European convention of human rights, Britain was the leader in persuading eastern Europe to come in to the European Union, Britain has always led the way when things have been difficult in Europe, and I think it’s time that we were a leader again. |
| “Let us lead in the UK presidency in the battle for jobs – I think we could create half a million jobs by a reform of the single market, jobs for Britain. Let us lead in energy coordination, which could use wind and wave powers so that we can get energy bills down. Let’s lead in tackling tax havens – only Europe can actually do that. | “Let us lead in the UK presidency in the battle for jobs – I think we could create half a million jobs by a reform of the single market, jobs for Britain. Let us lead in energy coordination, which could use wind and wave powers so that we can get energy bills down. Let’s lead in tackling tax havens – only Europe can actually do that. |
| “Let’s lead also when it comes to coordinated action against terrorism, because again Britain has got intelligence services that are the best in Europe, and we should be working with our European partners. We’re dealing with cross-border terrorism, we need cross-border cooperation.” | “Let’s lead also when it comes to coordinated action against terrorism, because again Britain has got intelligence services that are the best in Europe, and we should be working with our European partners. We’re dealing with cross-border terrorism, we need cross-border cooperation.” |
| Brown said Britain would not have been able to lead as it did in the global financial crisis, or on the climate change treaty, if it had been outside the EU. “Switzerland, outside the EU, they call it a fax democracy, they receive the decisions from Europe and they have to implement them. You’ve got to be at the table, you’ve got to be a negotiator. | Brown said Britain would not have been able to lead as it did in the global financial crisis, or on the climate change treaty, if it had been outside the EU. “Switzerland, outside the EU, they call it a fax democracy, they receive the decisions from Europe and they have to implement them. You’ve got to be at the table, you’ve got to be a negotiator. |
| “I think the British people’s patriotism is this: we want to be proud of our country and we will be proud of our country if we are leading in Europe. Not isolated, not on the sidelines, not sending flotillas up the Thames as a demonstration of strength but actually engaging in the world, out there, leading in proposals, showing that we can actually change the world for the better.” | “I think the British people’s patriotism is this: we want to be proud of our country and we will be proud of our country if we are leading in Europe. Not isolated, not on the sidelines, not sending flotillas up the Thames as a demonstration of strength but actually engaging in the world, out there, leading in proposals, showing that we can actually change the world for the better.” |
| On voters’ concerns about immigration, Brown emphasised that the government must help communities that have been hit by rising population levels but pointed out leaving would not be the panacea that the leave camp are claiming. | On voters’ concerns about immigration, Brown emphasised that the government must help communities that have been hit by rising population levels but pointed out leaving would not be the panacea that the leave camp are claiming. |
| “Norway and Switzerland, outside the European Union, have higher rates of immigration … the real problem we’re dealing with is illegal immigration. When you saw Albanians coming into the country, that wasn’t Europeans trying to get in by right, that was illegal immigrants driven by gangmasters, traffickers, criminal gangs, the only way to deal with that is by cooperation across the authorities in France and elsewhere.” | “Norway and Switzerland, outside the European Union, have higher rates of immigration … the real problem we’re dealing with is illegal immigration. When you saw Albanians coming into the country, that wasn’t Europeans trying to get in by right, that was illegal immigrants driven by gangmasters, traffickers, criminal gangs, the only way to deal with that is by cooperation across the authorities in France and elsewhere.” |
| With the referendum less than a fortnight away, the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign believes that between a third and a 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 a 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. |
| Brown’s intervention in the Scottish referendum campaign in 2014 was regarded by many as crucial and Stronger In hopes his voice still carries weight with Labour voters. “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. | Brown’s intervention in the Scottish referendum campaign in 2014 was regarded by many as crucial and Stronger In hopes his voice still carries weight with Labour voters. “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. |
| The former prime minister has already shared his EU reform proposals with his old foe David Cameron and the government has agreed to consider them. | The former prime minister has already shared his EU reform proposals with his old foe David Cameron and the government has agreed to consider them. |
| Brown has also discussed Labour’s strategy in the final few days of the campaign with Jeremy Corbyn, Corbyn’s deputy, Tom Watson, and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, in a rare show of unity between the Labour old guard and the current leadership. | Brown has also discussed Labour’s strategy in the final few days of the campaign with Jeremy Corbyn, Corbyn’s deputy, Tom Watson, and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, in a rare show of unity between the Labour old guard and the current leadership. |
| McDonnell said: “These proposals from Gordon Brown are welcome and are part of the positive Labour case that I and others are making to vote to remain and reform the EU.” | McDonnell said: “These proposals from Gordon Brown are welcome and are part of the positive Labour case that I and others are making to vote to remain and reform the EU.” |
| 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 meeting female voters. | 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 meeting female voters. |
| Benn told the Guardian he would confront head-on the argument that leaving the EU would allow Britain to “take back control”. He said: “We are at the centre of this network of relationships and those relationships are central to having influence.” | Benn told the Guardian he would confront head-on the argument that leaving the EU would allow Britain to “take back control”. He said: “We are at the centre of this network of relationships and those relationships are central to having influence.” |
| He will accuse leave campaigners of harking back to the age of the empire. “They sound as if they mourn for the bygone age in which Britain gained influence through military strength and empire,” he will say. “In the second half of the 20th century, we came to realise that it was far better and far more effective to be a global power that achieved its goals through cooperation rather than conquest.” | He will accuse leave campaigners of harking back to the age of the empire. “They sound as if they mourn for the bygone age in which Britain gained influence through military strength and empire,” he will say. “In the second half of the 20th century, we came to realise that it was far better and far more effective to be a global power that achieved its goals through cooperation rather than conquest.” |
| Asked if he thought voters could choose to leave on 23 June, Benn said: “It’s very tight; this is a very tight referendum and that’s why we are working so hard.” | Asked if he thought voters could choose to leave on 23 June, Benn said: “It’s very tight; this is a very tight referendum and that’s why we are working so hard.” |
| It was also reported on Monday that BT staff will be told that company bosses and union leaders back remaining in a reformed EU. | It was also reported on Monday that BT staff will be told that company bosses and union leaders back remaining in a reformed EU. |
| In an email to 80,000 staff at the telecoms company, BT’s chairman, chief executive and leaders of the Prospect and CWU unions will urge employees to vote but not tell them how, according to the BBC.The email will reportedly refer to independent research that suggests the economy will suffer if Britain does leave the EU, however. | In an email to 80,000 staff at the telecoms company, BT’s chairman, chief executive and leaders of the Prospect and CWU unions will urge employees to vote but not tell them how, according to the BBC.The email will reportedly refer to independent research that suggests the economy will suffer if Britain does leave the EU, however. |
| Matthew Elliott, chief executive of Vote Leave, said of possible EU reforms: “Everyone knows that renegotiation was an utter failure that achieved nothing. If we really want to take back control of our economy, our democracy and our borders then we have to vote leave.” | Matthew Elliott, chief executive of Vote Leave, said of possible EU reforms: “Everyone knows that renegotiation was an utter failure that achieved nothing. If we really want to take back control of our economy, our democracy and our borders then we have to vote leave.” |