Glenis Willmott: With four weeks to the vote it’s clear that Brexit would put at risk jobs, rights and security

In just four weeks’ time, voters go the polls in the EU referendum, and while there have been complaints that the campaigns have been too negative, Labour MEPs and the Labour Party will continue to make the positive case for our membership, day in day out, in workplaces, in communities and out on the doorstep, all the way to June 23.

This vote isn’t about just maintaining the rights and jobs, influence and security that we have, but about a chance to extend and amplify the benefits and opportunities of our membership, it’s about getting the most out of being in the EU and working as Labour to shape Europe so it works even better for British people.

As Gordon Brown told the European Parliament yesterday, a Britain not just a member of the single market, but leading within it to open up the digital economy and service sector could bring up to 500,000 new jobs in the next decade and increase consumer rights. Indeed, this week, the EU proposed new measures to accelerate the digital single market, which includes proposals to ensure consumers pay the same for cross-border online purchases, wherever they are and wherever they’re buying from.

More jobs and greater consumer rights will also come from EU infrastructure programmes and reforming Europe’s energy market – areas in which Labour MEPs are leading parliament’s efforts. For example, today, MEPs will vote on a Labour report that calls for a new deal for energy consumers, so Europe’s energy companies pass on falling wholesale prices to consumers, and consumers receive more information on bills and prices.

And it’s not just about the numbers of jobs – those we would lose by leaving and the jobs we’d gain by remaining – but the quality of employment. It isn’t just a case of protecting the existing rights our EU membership grants British workers – rights like a minimum four weeks’ paid holiday; a right to parental and maternity leave; and equal rights for part-time workers and full-time workers – but extending them.

Labour MEPs are leading calls for EU action on exploitative zero-hours contracts, and policies to tackle the problems of insecure employment and youth unemployment. We are also pushing the European Commission to close loopholes that allow companies to exploit workers and undercut wages in a race to the bottom.

All of this, however, will mean nothing if we do not win this referendum, if we as Labour activists do not get out and campaign over the next four weeks, and get Labour voters out on June 23 to vote to remain. The impact of the decision on working people would be greater than the loss of the last two elections – that’s how important it is.

And even before June 23, there’s another deadline, that of June 7, the last day to register to vote. As Labour’s shadow minister for young people and voter registration, Gloria de Piero, says today, it is vital young people take part in this referendum by registering and turning out to vote – fewer than half of 18-24 year olds voted at the last general election, and they will be the ones who have to live longest with the consequences of the referendum.

This vote will be about the future of Britain, our place in the world, and the jobs and opportunities we will either enjoy as members of the EU, or lose as leavers from it. We can either leave, and risk all we have – the jobs, the rights, the security, the influence – or stay, and not just hold onto all those but better them.

For our security and safety, for jobs and communities, for fairness and justice, we are better off in – for young people, for working people, for Labour people.

Glenis Willmott is leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party