EU membership is bigger than Cameron’s reforms, says Alan Johnson

The question of Britain’s membership of the EU is much bigger than anything David Cameron could have done in his reforms package, Alan Johnson has said – and added that the Tory PM had been prevented from trading away workers’ rights.

The leader of Labour’s campaign to remain in the EU also said that the party would not attempt to delay the referendum date later than the likely polling day in June. With the Tories split on the issue, a June referendum date would likely require Labour support in a House of Commons vote.

“Britain’s membership of the EU is much bigger than any changes David Cameron hopes to make,” Johnson said, following the publication of Donald Tusk’s letter outlining a draft plan for the UK’s membership of the EU earlier today. That plan will now need to be agreed by other EU member states.

The former Home Secretary said:

“The sooner these reforms are agreed, the sooner we can we can step up the campaign to keep Britain in Europe and end the uncertainty around our EU membership.

“At the outset of this process, Labour were clear that David Cameron must not use these reforms to damage protections at work guaranteed through our EU membership. The Tories have been prevented from hitting British workers’ rights to minimum paid leave, rights for agency workers, guaranteed paid maternity and paternity leave and protection from discrimination.

“Labour is campaigning to keep Britain in the European Union because our membership brings jobs, prosperity and Britain’s influence in the world as well as protecting British workers and keeping us safer.”