Stephen Dorrell, Chair of the European Movement UK, said:

“The European Movement UK believes that Brexit is a mistake and it is in the best interests of the UK to remain within the European Union, the Single Market and the Customs Union and to safeguard all the benefits that we derive from our EU membership.

“We welcome Labour’s commitment to a Customs Union with the EU and to avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland.  The European Movement was founded after World War II to help foster peace between people across Europe and Brexit should not be allowed to jeopardise the hard-won peace process in Northern Ireland or threaten the Good Friday Agreement.

“The European Movement UK wants to protect the rights of UK and EU citizens and the freedom of movement enabled by our EU membership. Migrants shouldn’t be used as scapegoats for the problems our society faces and we are glad Jeremy Corbyn highlighted this and the importance of supporting our NHS, where EU staff help deliver vital services.

“The easiest way to protect the workers’ rights and other rights we enjoy as EU citizens, as well as existing standards and opportunities in the EU – enabled by, for example, the European Food Safety Authority, the European Chemicals Agency, the ERASMUS programme and EURATOM - is to remain within the European Union.”