John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor will begin a week-long tour of the country today with events scheduled in Wolverhampton, Leeds, Leicester and Cardiff - with more dates to follow before polling day.

The tour will include public meetings entitled “The EU referendum and looking to the future” and will start in Wolverhampton, before moving on to Leeds and Leicester and ending the week with a rally in Cardiff alongside Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, speaking ahead of the first event, said:

“The EU referendum is about our future relationship with Europe not who is the next leader of the Tory party, which is why I think there is a positive case to be made and it’s vital young people hear this case over the personal ambitions of different Tory MPs.

“The Labour leadership will not go anywhere near the Tories project fear campaign on both sides of the debate, but instead we will continue to set out the positive case to ‘Remain and Reform’ the EU to create 'Another Europe’ and reject Tory Brexit.

“Next month there is a serious choice before the British people, the prospect of a Tory Brexit or a Labour Remain and Reform to create Another Europe that offers greater opportunity for working people in our country and across the EU.

“One option risks leaving us more exposed to George Osborne’s mishandling of the economy from the inevitable economic shock that most economists agree would follow a Tory Brexit.

"And then there’s the progressive option of a 'Another Europe’, whereby under the next Labour government we can reform the undemocratic aspects of the EU while using the levers of power there to clamp down on tax avoidance, protect workplace rights and stand up for British industries like steel.

"For the first time in over a generation there are movements and political forces mobilised and mobilising across Europe to respond to the challenges we face.

"Another Europe is not just possible but urgently and vitally needed, which is why we must reject the offer of a Tory Brexit.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

Initial tour datest:

·      WOLVERHAMPTON – Monday 30th May – Public Meeting with Owen Jones, Pat Glass MP (Shadow Europe Minister) and Rob Marris MP – tinyurl.com/jmeurefwolverhampton

·      LEEDS – Tuesday 31st May – Public Meeting with Yanis Varoufakis and Pat Glass MP – tinyurl.com/jmeurefleeds

·      LEICESTER - Wednesday 1st June - Public Meeting with Pat Glass MP – tinyurl.com/jmeurefleicester

·      CARDIFF - Friday 3rd June - Rally in evening with Jeremy Corbyn - details TBC

More dates to follow.

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