Pro Britain in Europe campaign launching
BRITAIN Stronger In Europe will launch its campaign in the North West at the Cunard Building on the Liverpool waterfront today (Tuesday February 16).
The group’s executive director Will Straw will be joined by Deputy Mayor Ann O’Byrne to talk about how funding from the EU has helped regenerate the area, bringing in jobs and investment.
They will launch a new set of figures showing 477,005 jobs across the North West are linked to trade with the EU, including 226,314 in manufacturing, 27,818 in science and technology and 26,318 in motoring.
Goods exports from the North West to the EU account for £13.5bn, the group will say.
It will also argue there will be huge benefits for the North West from EU funds. In the next five years the North West will receive £16.8m from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Merseyside alone receives £22.2m from the Youth Employment Initiative and the North West benefits from £913m through the EU Structural Fund.
They will also point to EU wide measures that enhance our security, like the European Arrest Warrant, which has been used to deport 452 suspected foreign criminals from the region since 2010.
Will Straw will say: “Very soon people across the North West will be asked to make the choice of a generation.
“Does Britain remain part of Europe and keep all of the benefits of jobs, low prices and safe streets – or do we risk going it alone?
“We are clear that people in the North West are stronger, safer and better off because of our membership of the European Union.
“Our EU membership supports 477,000 jobs in the North West alone and enables our businesses to trade freely in the world’s largest free trade zone.
“It allows us to more easily deport suspected foreign criminals and bring British citizens who commit crimes abroad back here to face justice. It is good for jobs, good for business, and good for workers.”
