Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2016-02-24-Speech-1-060-000"
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"en.20160224.13.1-060-000"2
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"Mr President, we could use this debate to discuss the details of the deal struck last Friday, but that would be to miss the point. The deal was done, and now the clock is ticking. While the summit has finally given the British Prime Minister what he needed – to speak out loud and clear in favour of our EU membership – it is not Friday’s deal that is on the ballot paper for the UK referendum.
The question facing the British people is far more significant than anything that can be agreed over a very late breakfast in Brussels. It is about the very future of Britain as an outward—looking global player. It is about the future of Europe at a time when we need international cooperation to face the challenges of an uncertain world. For too long, politicians in Britain have shied away from the big arguments about Europe. We have allowed debate to be dominated by those on the other side of the Chamber and by those who are willing to stoke fear and divide communities to drive forward their ideological agenda, and by those who go heavy on the rhetoric and bluster but are in short supply of actual answers when asked about their alternatives to Britain holding its head high as an active and leading member of the EU.
Colleagues, it is time we called out those who claim to speak for Britain but who, in truth, represent only a fraction of the British people. It is time we called out those who claim to be making a patriotic case but argue for a course of action that would diminish our country’s standing in the world. It is time we called out those who claim to care about working people but are pushing for the choice that means less job security and fewer working rights. That is why Labour is already out there, going from door to door, street to street, making the case not just for Britain to remain a member of the EU but for it to be once again a leading player in Europe. Thanks to campaigning by Labour and the trade unions, we have been able to block early efforts by the Tories to weaken workers’ rights as part of their negotiations. Those rights to paid holiday, equal pay and a safe place to work will feature front and centre of our campaign to remain.
We will be making a positive case about Britain’s place in the world and about the fact that, on everything from the environment to the economy, Britain is stronger when working together with its European partners. There is still much we can do to make Europe work better for our constituents. Nobody should be under any illusion: after the referendum is won, after the legislation agreed at this summit is passed, our job of reforming Europe is not done. But for Britain to have an influence on this process, we must have a seat at the table. So, for Britain and for Europe, we will fight with every breath to win."@en1
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