UK’s Corbyn backs EU membership

By Michael Sercan Daventry

LONDON

Britain’s main opposition leader said there was a “strong socialist case” for EU membership in his first major speech of the country’s referendum campaign.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party’s members “overwhelmingly” supported the U.K. remaining in the European Union because it was the best way to reform its shortcomings.

The speech on Thursday was designed to address claims from critics that Corbyn, historically a Eurosceptic, was not openly supportive of Britain remaining part of the 28-country bloc.

He told an audience in central London that he remained critical of the European Union’s shortcomings “from its lack of democratic accountability to the institutional pressure to deregulate or privatize public services”.

He continued: “So Europe needs to change. But that change can only come from working with our allies in the EU. It’s perfectly possible to be critical and still be convinced we need to remain a member.”

Corbyn cited the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which would create a free-trade area between Europe and the United States, as an example of policy that wanted to reform while remaining an EU member.

And he said the EU was an effective forum to tackle climate change, which he described as a threat Britain cannot face alone.

“We could have the best policies possible but unless we act together internationally, it is worthless,” he added.