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Remain activists rally for ‘another’ Europe
McDonnell and Lucas speak at event calling on Britain to vote In

MORE THAN 1,000 left activists are expected to attend a central London event today in support of a Remain vote in the EU referendum.

Organisers claim that the “Vote In — Another Europe is Possible” rally promises to be the biggest In rally of the EU referendum campaign so far.

Speakers including Greek economist and former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Green MP Caroline Lucas and left-wing columnist Owen Jones will put the progressive case for staying in Europe.

Commenting ahead of the event, Mr Varoufakis said: “Brexit trades on false hope.

“It will not return sovereignty to Westminster. Instead, it will only benefit a segment of the financial elites, strengthen xenophobia and deepen the economic malaise.

“We must join forces across borders and parties to confront Brussels, and thus build an open, democratic Europe.”

Today’s event will launch the London Declaration, which will be signed by Mr Varoufakis, Ms Lucas and Mr McDonnell and which concludes: “Let us work together to vote In on June 23, and to change Britain and Europe for the better.”

Ms Lucas said: “People are bored of hearing the same old voices in the referendum debate — that’s why Another Europe is Possible’s tour will be such a storming success.

“We’ll be putting forward a positive, progressive vision for Britain’s EU membership.

“The EU guarantees workers’ rights, protects our environment and allows us to live, work, study and retire across 28 countries.

“I’m glad to be speaking alongside the Labour Party, trade unionists, environmentalists and social justice campaigners. Our movement is united in saying that Britain’s membership of the EU is good for progressive politics.

“Of course, the EU is not perfect, but we’re coming together to say that we must stay in Europe to make it more democratic and accountable. By walking away, we’d only put our rights at work and our environments at risk.”

The rally is part of the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25), a pan-continental initiative demanding democracy and transparency in the EU, and is co-hosted by openDemocracy.

The event kicks off a national tour visiting cities including Bristol, Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle and Manchester.

Participants will also launch a new wave of campaigning events across the country alongside the Jeremy Corbyn-supporting Momentum campaign, using methods inspired by US social democrat Bernie Sanders’s battle to become the Democratic presidential candidate.

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