Alan Johnson and the final Labour for IN EU push

Campaigning has resumed for the upcoming EU in / out referendum.

Thursday June 23 the British electorate will vote on the future of the UK either in or out of the European Union.

The following was received Monday afternoon from the writer's MP and the man Labour appointed to run the Labour In campaign, Alan Johnson:

Following the tragic death of our colleague and friend Jo Cox MP and the fitting tributes in Parliament today, I wanted to give you a final update on the Labour In campaign and what we can do in the remaining days to ensure we keep Britain in Europe.

I always expected it to be close but it's now clear that it's going to go right down to the wire. But I know it can be won. If that's to happen, we the Labour Party will be the ones to win it.

Over the past few weeks, I've made over 100 visits to Labour seats up and down our country. It's been invigorating, meeting hundreds of members, supporters and ordinary members of the public. Wherever I've been people want to talk about the choice at stake, what it means for our country, for jobs, for workers and our NHS.

We're in because we're Labour

On Thursday, Britain's jobs, economy and the NHS are on the ballot paper. If we vote to leave it will be working families and young people who pay the price.

Leaving the EU would put current and future jobs at risk, jeopardise crucial guarantees on workers' rights, lead to less investment in our public services. It would open the door to further Tory cuts, leaving working people at the mercy of the likes of Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Nigel Farage.

That's a risk we can't take. The European Union has its problems, not everything about it works, but despite that Britain is undoubtedly better off in. This is a one-off choice between staying in or leaving completely. There's no coming back. Given what is at stake, choosing to remain is the best option for Britain.

We need to reject the Tory vision of a Britain outside of Europe which would threaten jobs and make us poorer and less influential in the world.

Instead we should choose Remain, because it's a vote for a better, Labour future. It's a vote for more and better jobs, for lower prices for families, for security and prosperity for Europe, and for our NHS protected from further Tory cuts.

We all have a part to play

This referendum needs Labour. With the Tories torn from top to bottom, it's plain they can't persuade the country: they look more interested in their own leadership contest than in leading the nation. So the responsibility falls to us.

Labour is the largest political party in the country with over 390,000 members. Everyone has a part to play. Find out how you can get involved here.

Rest assured, the campaign is throwing everything we have at it. We have raised double our target in this campaign and will spend close to £5 million. We've recruited 70 new staff for this campaign, the party's largest ever recruitment drive, printed 20 million leaflets and posted over 5 million direct mails, poured over £1 million into Facebook and online advertising reaching over 13 million voters. All week, we'll be out on streets, on the airwaves and on all media to make the case.

Labour members and supporters have been fantastic so far, working the phones and pounding the streets. Now we need one more push, a heave to victory. In this last week I'm asking everyone to redouble their efforts, to play their part in this battle for the future of our country. Speak to those close to you, make the arguments: we have reason and a positive vision on our side.

Any time you can spare between now and the polls closing to help out would be a huge boost to our efforts — find an event in your local area here.

A vote for remain is a vote for what we believe in, Labour values: jobs, working families, the NHS. The alternative is a narrow, Tory vision which threatens jobs, workers' rights and our vital public services. You can find out more about just how much is at stake here.

That's the choice we're fighting for. So let us come together now to give it all we've got and fight for Britain's future.

Together we can do this.

Best wishes,

Alan Johnson MP
Chair of Labour In for Britain