A few days ago, I gave a speech setting out Labour’s Economic Case for why Britain is better off in the European Union.
Remaining in Europe should be about more jobs, better jobs and fairness in the workplace. It sends a strong message to investors like the Indian companies I meet, that investing in Britain is good for us and a springboard to the 500-million strong single market.
Britain has benefitted from being in the world’s largest and successful economic and social union for four decades. Our continued membership is the most secure route to a more prosperous future for our country and our people.
Last month in my constituency I spoke to a man in his forties who was conflicted between listening to his parents, who are planning to vote to leave, and worrying about what the future holds for his teenage children.
He thought of the instability if Britain did go it alone - what it would mean for his children. And he decided it was vital to get his parents to think again about what their vote might mean for their grandchildren.
This same conversation is going on in families up and down the country, as people grapple with the enormity of the choice we face, and the future we will shape.
My appeal to those considering voting to leave is this: Listen to the young people of Britain. Take note of what they think is best for their future. According to the polls, there’s a three-to-one majority amongst under 30s in favour of staying in. Meanwhile, among the over-60 the leavers outnumber the stayers by almost two-to-one. There is a generational divide.
We can learn much from the recent Irish referendum campaign which saw just such a conversation. The younger generations persuaded their parents and grandparents not to vote for an outcome they saw as damaging to Ireland and reputation of the country – with the great, progressive result to legalise equal marriage.
Today’s young are convinced that their futures lie in Europe. They look outwards with confidence. They have grown up with the internet and social media, diversity in our schools, conversing daily with thousands across the world. For them, this interconnectedness is the norm.
They cherish the freedom to travel, to learn and to experience all that Europe has to offer. They see migration in terms of the opportunity it brings them.
Immigration needs fair rules and proper controls, but it also benefits our economy. And it works both ways. There are almost as many Britons living in mainland Europe as there are people from other European countries living here.
Young people see the benefits of the EU in ensuring good and secure jobs with guaranteed rights at work and good working conditions. Young technology entrepreneurs also see the benefits for them. As a 21 year old entrepreneur told me recently - “my business can go global in an instant”.
Britain is helping lead plans to create a Digital Single Market in Europe - forecast to add €400 billion per year to the European economy and create the best part of four million jobs. Many of these will be in the UK’s thriving tech industry.
Indeed, science, scientists and engineers also overwhelmingly back the prosperity and innovation of EU membership. Stephen Hawking and the more than 150 fellows of the Royal Society who wrote to The Times last month know that Britain’s membership brings increased funding and huge benefits from collaboration between British and continental scientists.
The EU accounts for more than a third of world scientific output – outstripping the mighty United States – and that gap is growing. Collaboration between scientists across Europe produces advances and national boundaries should not hinder this interaction and cross-fertilisation between these brilliant minds. It is not just the original research that is important, but how it feeds through to the innovation pipeline of new commercial opportunities and jobs.
Britain’s excellence in the knowledge and digital economy is underpinned by our membership of the European Union. Hundreds of thousands of young people who we want to encourage to vote in the referendum already benefit from the digital industries such as creative industries. They know that the value of our Creative Industries exports exceeds £18bn and more than half of it goes to the European Union.
Europe isn’t perfect. Labour is both pro-Europe and pro reform in Europe.
For the sake of our economy, our shared prosperity and the strongest future for our young people – where they have the same opportunities as their peers across Europe – we must vote to remain.
