Former British, Italian and Swedish PMs along with leaders from across Europe have backed a manifesto launched by UK civil society, calling for Britain to lead Europe, not leave Europe. The manifesto, which is hosted on InFacts, urges the government to pursue a positive agenda focussing on jobs, terrorism, mass migration, climate change and fairness from June 24 if the people vote to stay in the EU.
Gordon Brown said:
“I welcome the manifesto for Remain launched by UK civil society and hosted by InFacts. It sets out a constructive agenda for Europe, focussing on jobs, terrorism, mass migration, climate change and fairness. These are priorities not just for Britain but for the whole of Europe. We should be leading Europe, not leaving Europe.”
Other European leaders also backed the manifesto, suggesting that it sets out a realistic agenda for Europe if we vote to remain. Endorsements come from 10 other senior politicians, led by Enrico Letta, the former Italian prime minister, and Radek Sikorski, the former Polish foreign minister. They come from different parts of Europe and different political persuasions. The leaders said in a joint statement:
“We welcome the manifesto for Remain launched by UK civil society. It sets out a constructive agenda for Europe, focussing on jobs, terrorism, mass migration, climate change and fairness. These are priorities for the whole of Europe. We hope Great Britain will stay in the EU and play a leading role in turning this agenda into action.”
The full list of signatories is:
Joerg Asmussen – Former executive board member of the European Central Bank, Germany
Carl Bildt – Former prime minister, Sweden
Bernard Kouchner – co-founder of Medicins sans Frontieres and former minister of Foreign and European Affairs, France
Pascal Lamy – Former director-general of the World Trade Organisation and European Commissioner for Trade, France
Enrico Letta – Former prime minister, Italy
Kyriakos Mitsotakis – Leader of the opposition, Greece
Urmas Paet – Former foreign minister, Estonia
Ana Palacio – Former foreign minister, Spain
Radek Sikorski – Former foreign minister and defence minister, Poland
Antonio Vitorino – Former deputy prime minister and European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, Portugal
The manifesto had been signed by over 900 people by 4pm on June 15. Most of the founding 70-odd signatories are not politicians. They work in business, media, the arts and so forth. The manifesto has also been backed by Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians, as well as Britain’s only Green MP. Anybody can add their support by clicking on this link.
All living prime ministers should appear on tv together….they were elected to the
Highest office in the land….the leave campaign would have you beleive they’ve become traitors to their own country .
I believe campaigning has been suspended for 16 June on account of the outrageous attack on Jo Cox, MP for Batley and Spen. In the light of a breaking report from Reuters that she has died, our sympathies must be with her family. No comment has been made on a possible motive so I will not rush to judgement.