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Blunkett: EU Exit Would Be 'Catastrophe'

Eurosceptic Labour grandee Lord Blunkett has backed the campaign to keep Britain in the EU - warning of a "catastrophe" in the event of a vote to leave.

The former home secretary told Sky News Britain needed to be at the heart of Europe to deal with challenges such as Islamic State terrorism, organised crime and mass migration.

Lord Blunkett is one of five previously eurosceptic Labour Party figures who have backed the case for Britain to remain in a reformed European Union, in apparent support for David Cameron's negotiations.

He said: "People who were sceptical 40 years ago may still be sceptical of the way Europe works as a bureaucracy and I'm certainly a Eurosceptic, but recognise the catastrophe that would happen if we pulled out of Europe now.

He added: "There are millions of people we're going to have to win over, who are not enthusiastic, who have been sceptical... and are going to have to be won over if we don't have an economic, a social and an international crisis, because our withdrawal from Europe would bring those things."

Lord Blunkett along with Margaret Beckett, Neil Kinnock, Jack Straw and shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn - who all campaigned against membership of the European Community in 1975 - have signed an open letter to argue the case for remaining in the EU.

The cross-party group Britain Stronger In Europe says the letter shows the Labour Party are now "united on the issue of Europe under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership".

However, Mr Corbyn's name is absent from the signatories.

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While the letter says the current renegotiation "will hopefully strengthen" the UK/EU relationship, the Labour leader himself recently dismissed David Cameron's reform agenda in the Commons as "tinkering around the edges".

This could lead to speculation that Mr Benn is once again at odds with his leader - but Mr Benn has insisted to Sky News that he is aligned to the Labour In For Britain campaign.

Mr Blunkett said: "I don't think Jeremy's ever been terribly enthusiastic about the European Union but that is not to say he's actually against staying in, is it?"

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In the open letter, the five Labour grandees write: "In the 1975 referendum we all campaigned against the UK remaining in what is now the European Union. Now, and for a long time past, it has been clear that Britain is stronger, safer and better off than we would or could be if pulled out of the EU."

Meanwhile, influential Tory backbencher Graham Brady - chair of the 1922 Committee - warned that David Cameron must make clear to Cabinet colleagues that they are free to speak in favour of leaving the EU immediately after any deal is agreed in Brussels later this week.

He told Sky News' Murnaghan programme: "If it were to appear that David Cameron wanted to have the whole weekend to himself to put one side of the argument, I think that would be bad for the Remain campaign.

"People want an honest, fair debate, so I think it's in the interests of both sides to have an early Cabinet meeting and ensure that people who want to speak out can do so as soon as possible."

Mr Brady backed the PM to stay in office even if Britain votes to leave the EU, arguing that he should lead the negotiations that would follow.