Young Labour councillors in Greater Manchester back campaign to stay in the EU

Cllr John Blundell

Young Labour councillors across Greater Manchester are demanding young people have a greater say on the EU referendum.

A new campaign group has been formed backing Britain to stay in the EU and the councillor behind it says young people have largely been frozen out of the debate so far.

“The choice facing us in this referendum is the biggest in a generation,” said Rochdale councillor John Blundell. “And yet the debate so far is totally dominated by older men who are not representative of the country as a whole. Young people should have a say on their country’s future and their voice must be heard.”

He added that it would be a huge risk for Britain to leave the EU, threatening jobs, investment and national security.

“I feel European and I don’t want to have to get a VISA to go on holiday in Spain,” he said. “I’m glad to be part of the world’s largest trading bloc. We’ll be an isolated, smaller country if we leave.”

The group of Labour councillors, all under 27, agreed that reforms were necessary to the EU but said leaving would be cutting off our nose to spite our face.

“Why would we give up a position at the top table where we can influence things in the world’s biggest political and economic bloc?” asked Bury Councillor Jamie Walker. “I strongly believe that Britain is better off working together with our European partners to achieve security and growth.

“The EU has been good for workers rights, helped secure stronger maternity and paternity rights and establish anti-discrimination laws that have made Britain a more tolerant, fairer country.

“We all know that Brexit campaigners like Nigel Farage and Iain Duncan Smith would love to tear up these rights. That’s why it’s so important we vote to stay in a reformed EU in June.”

Tameside Councillor Leigh Drennan, who represents a number of agricultural workers, added that leaving the EU would put livelihoods at risk. “It is not clear whether the Conservative government would replace the subsidies that are given to farmers from the European Union,” he said. “People are understandably worried.”

The young Labour councilors in Greater Manchester campaigning to stay in the EU are:

• Councillor John Blundell
• Councillor Liam O'Rouke
• Councillor Danny Meredith
• Councillor Jamie Walker
• Councillor Rebecca Moore
• Councillor Leigh Drennan
• Councillor Oliver Ryan
• Councillor Eamon O'Brien