Harriet Harman

Former MP for Camberwell and Peckham

We're a stronger Britain staying in Europe

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With one week to go until we head to the polls on June 23, to vote on whether to stay in or leave the European Union, it’s clear that many people still haven’t made up their minds.

I strongly believe that it is in Britain’s national interest that we remain at the heart of the European Union.   Labour is the party that hates inequality, unemployment and unfairness and loves the NHS and opportunities for all and Labour wants us to stay in the EU.

Because we’re in the EU, businesses in this country can attract investment which creates jobs – over half a million jobs in London depend on our membership of the European Union.

Because we’re in the EU, we can sell what we make, and our services, in every EU country – a marketplace of 500 million people.

Because we’re in the EU, people have better rights at work. The EU guarantees the right to paid holiday, paid maternity leave and rights for part-timers.  It’s the EU that made our governments pass those laws and so long as we remain a member no Tory government can try and take them away.  If we left the EU, there would be a risk to jobs and to rights at work. We need better rights at work, not to be fighting to keep those that we already have.

I’m not going to be put off by people calling it “Project Fear”.  I am fearful about jobs and rights.  Even the leaders of the Leave campaign say that they can’t guarantee that people wouldn’t lose their jobs if we left. We should not be putting jobs at risk.

The leaders of the Leave campaign have never fought for you.  They are the people that brought in the Bedroom Tax and have cut our NHS and council services. They want to scrap business regulations, get rid of the “social chapter”.  What they really mean is getting rid of your right to paid holiday, maternity leave and paternity pay.

Immigration is a big issue, but there’s more immigration from outside the EU than people coming from other EU countries.  If you’re worried about the NHS, or about housing – don’t blame immigrants. It’s the responsibility of Government to support the NHS and to build enough houses. Leaving the EU would make things worse by hitting the economy.

Labour wants us to stay in the EU for jobs, workers’ rights, to improve living standards and make sure we have enough public money to pay for vital services.  I hope you’ll join me in voting to remain in the EU on 23rd June.

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