Corbyn Makes Case For 'Real Social Europe'

Staying in the European Union is in the best interests of the British public, Jeremy Corbyn has told his party as he vowed to push a "real social Europe" in the run-up to the vote promised by David Cameron.

The Labour leader, who has previously been lukewarm to our membership of the EU, stressed that he wants to see reform but different changes from that of David Cameron, based much more on protecting workers rights and stopping privatisation.

In a speech to the Labour local government conference in Nottingham, he said: "In the referendum campaign Labour will be making it clear we stand up for public ownership and accountability.

"Our party is committed to keeping Britain in the EU because we believe it is the best framework for European trade and co-operation and is in the best interests of the British people.

"But we also want to see progressive reform in Europe: democratisation, stronger workers' rights, sustainable growth and jobs at the heart of economic policy, and an end to the pressure to privatise and deregulate public services.

"And we will be pressing the case for a real social Europe during the coming referendum campaign."

His best intervention in Europe to date comes as the Labour grouping to quit the EU was in disarray.

Labour Leave which was formally launched in January with MPs including Kate Hoey and party donor John Mills are at odds with the umbrella organisation Vote Leave.

Mr Mills, who is vice-chairman of Vote Leave, said: "Labour Leave is an independent campaign but corporately it supports Vote Leave."

He said he was the "founder and co-owner of Labour Leave", but Ms Hoey said: "John Mills is not an office holder.

"He was part of the people who set it up, he was chair of Vote Leave and then during the week he was demoted to being the vice-chair of Vote Leave."

Trouble within Vote Leave, which also lost the support of Green peer Baroness Jones, appeared to centre on the role of campaign director Dominic Cummings, a former aide to Tory cabinet minister Michael Gove.

The MP for Vauxhall told Channel 4 News: "Well, I suppose his name does come into the frame."

Mr Corbyn also used his speech to propose more freedom for town halls to spend, borrow and reverse the privatisation and outsourcing of services.