Sadiq Khan: It is up to Labour to win the referendum now

In an event at the Shard in central London tomorrow, the new Mayor of London Sadiq Khan will argue that the Tories are too divided to win this referendum and so Labour now has a ‘monumental and historic responsibility’ to deliver a victory for remain on the 23rd of June.

The new Mayor of London will join Alan Johnson, Yvette Cooper and Harriet Harman at a rally for Labour members, where Alan as Chair of the Labour In for Britain campaign will challenge the more than 350,000 Labour members to convince three people each to vote remain in the final two weeks, leading to over a million more voters for remain.

Alan Johnson will also criticise the continued focus on David Cameron and Boris Johnson in the referendum campaign and call for Labour members to ‘step up’ and be the trusted voice for their friends, families and neighbours and to convince them to vote remain.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London said:

“We are here today because with just two weeks to go we want to send a crystal-clear message: it is Labour voters and supporters who will decide the outcome of this referendum. We in the Labour Party now have a monumental and historic responsibility on our shoulders – to keep Britain in the European Union.

“Every day we see another example of why David Cameron and the Tories simply cannot win this referendum as they lose credibility with the public. They are simply too riven by division. It now falls to us, and it’s time for us to step up.

“Jeremy, Harriet, Alan, Yvette, the whole Shadow Cabinet, and every Labour MP, Councillor, member and supporter in Britain – the responsibility is ours. We don’t want to look back in two weeks’ time and think – did we do enough?

“So let’s get out there now.  Let’s spend every second and every hour of the next two weeks persuading our friends and our neighbours to get out there on 23 June and vote for Britain to remain in the European Union.”

Alan Johnson MP, Chair of Labour In for Britain said:

“With David Cameron and Boris Johnson trading blows in this campaign it sometimes resembles a bunfight in the Eton tea room. This debate is not about who is to lead the Conservative Party, it’s about the kind of country we want Britain to be: engaged with our continent or isolated on the periphery; erecting barriers or building bridges; a great trading nation or a small minded country where exploitation flourishes.

“As the largest political party in the country we’re asking our members to do even more in the final two weeks of the campaign in persuading Labour voters to protect jobs, our economy and workers’ rights by staying in the EU, the largest commercial market in the world.

“The truth is Labour are the only major political party who are united on this issue, so we need everyone – MPs, councillors, members and supporters – to redouble their efforts to defeat Nigel Farage, Michael Gove, Iain Duncan Smith and their friends by convincing a million more people to vote Remain.”