Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn states case for staying in EU during flying visit to Wirral

During a speech at West Kirby Methodist Church he urged members to ensure Labour plays its part in securing a remain vote in the EU referendum, which goes to the vote on June 23.

He highlighted the importance of campaigning hard to ensure a good result in next month’s council and Police and Crime Commissioner elections and also hit out at Government austerity measures and health service reforms.

The visit was part of a whistle-stop tour of Merseyside, in which he also spoke to party members in Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton and took a trip on the 'Dazzleship' ferry.

Jeremy Corbyn before making his speech in West Kirby this afternoon. Picture: Geoff Davies

Among more than 300 people in the audience at West Kirby Methodist Church were local Labour candidates, joined by West Wirral Labour MP Margaret Greenwood and Wallasey MP Angela Eagle.

In a speech on Thursday, Mr Corbyn said his party was "overwhelmingly" in favour of Britain staying in the EU, adding that a vote to remain was in the best interests of the people of this country.

He told the Globe this afternoon: "As I explained in my speech on Thursday, I have many criticisms of the European Union.

"The issues we have to confront are transfer of trade and investment partnership, greater protection and development of workers' rights and more equality of wages across Europe, to stop the undercutting and exploitation of migrant workers.

"Also, a lot of jobs depend on it. Half of Vauxhall’s production, overall, goes to Europe, so if we’re out of the European Union it’s hard to know what would happen then." 

Jeremy Corbyn after his speech at West Kirby Methodist Church this afternoon. Picture: Geoff Davies

During his speech, he also criticised Government plans to turn all schools into academies, telling the audience: "You end up with a series of isolated Silos, run for profit rather than need, while the council looks on.

"There is something good about local authorities bringing education together.

"Education is something that has to be there for all. We want invest in education and we believe every child deserves the best education."

Urging people to get out and vote, Mr Corbyn said: "Change comes about when people come together.

"It does not come about when people shout at the television."

Audience starts to fill up ahead of the meeting

On his visit to Wirral, he told the Globe: "I was delighted to be here. There's been a great reception, a great response.

"What's great is the atmosphere; the spirit in the party at the moment is fantastic. They’re all out door-knocking and leafleting. It’s exciting."

Jeremy Corbyn during his speech at West Kirby Methodist Church this afternoon. Picture: Geoff Davies

He added: "I was delighted to be here with Margaret in her constituency.

"I was so pleased when she was elected and I said quite a lot about that in my speech.

"Angela Eagle was also here, as was the Euro MP.

"We're very optimistic, very enthusiastic and I look forward to some great results.

"It's nice to be on Wirral. I love looking at the Dee.

"The Dee estuary is a place of iconic need to preserve it for all-time, the migratory birds and the natural eco-system that it gives us.

“I very strongly value all of that. So, no fracking please!”

West Wirral MP Margaret Greenwood (pictured, above), who arranged the visit, told the Globe: "I was thrilled that Jeremy was able to make it over here to support our local election campaign, to support Jane Kennedy; obviously we would like to see her re-elected as police and crime commissioner – very important for the people of Merseyside as a whole and, of course to make the very strong case for staying in Europe.

"His visit has really inspired everyone, given people hope, generated such a lot of interest and inspired a lot of people to get out knocking on doors as part of the election campaign."

Council leader Phil Davies, who was also in the audience, added: "It was an inspirational speech, it’s given a fantastic boost to our local election campaign.

"It's given all our candidates a massive lift and sends out a strong message that what the Conservatives have done to Wirral is just appalling in this day and age, that we’ve got foodbanks."