Socialists kick off pro-EU campaign in Battle

Battle Labour Party kicked off its campaign for the UK to stay in the European Union with an event in Market Square on Saturday morning (March 5).
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Mar 2016, 14:20 BST
Updated 10th Mar 2016, 14:21 BST

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Labour want to stay in the EULabour want to stay in the EU
Labour want to stay in the EU

Campaigners spoke to shoppers about what the party sees as the importance of Britain’s continued EU membership for Sussex jobs and businesses.

Labour activists argued 80,000 Sussex jobs depend on Britain’s continued EU membership and half of UK exports, worth nearly a quarter of a trillion pounds a year, are to Europe.

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Tim Macpherson was Labour’s West Sussex parliamentary candidate last May and its Rother District Council by-election candidate in Battle Town last June.

He stressed many of UK workers’ employment rights are due to EU membership, including holiday pay.

Mr Macpherson is heading Labour’s ‘in’ campaign throughout the Bexhill and Battle parliamentary constituency.

Labour Party activists claimed on Saturday that 60 years of peace and stability in Europe and the collective means to address pressing security interests are other reasons for staying in the EU,

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However, Battle Labour Party says it is not sanguine about all that happens in the EU.

Democratic reform of EU decision-making is also being emphasised in Labour’s campaign.

The activists did a straw poll of Battle residents they spoke to on Saturday which revealed a narrow majority in favour of remaining in the EU but a quarter of respondents were undecided.

The Battle branch was re-constituted in October to act as a focal point for the apparent surge in Labour members since the General Election.

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The next party meeting will be held at the Emmanuel Centre at Battle Methodist Church at 7.30pm on Thursday (March 17).

For more information about the party call chairman Daniel Atkinson on 07778 347777 or email [email protected].

The UK will be voting on whether to remain a member of the EU or to leave on June 23.

Those in favour of leaving the EU believe Britain is being held back by the union by the amount of regulation and laws from Brussels and want to take control of the country’s borders to reduce the amount of immigrants.

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Related topics:LabourWest SussexEuropeTwitter