WORCESTER’S MP has backed the UK remaining in the EU and said the country would be ‘better off’ as the benefits of staying in far outweighed the risks of leaving.
Robin Walker’s decision follows the Prime Minister’s return from Brussels on Friday (February 19) with a EU reform deal following more than 30 hours of negotiations with European leaders.
The agreement paved the way for David Cameron to announce an in-out referendum will be held on Thursday, June 23.
As part of the reform deal, the UK will now be able to opt-out of ever closer union, apply an ’emergency brake’ on in-work benefits for EU migrants for seven years and British taxpayers money will never used to bailout Eurozone countries.
The new reforms will come into effect if the UK votes to remain in the EU.
However, critics of the Prime Minister’s deal claim he has merely brought back ‘concessions’ and hasn’t significantly reformed Britain’s relationship with the EU.
Mr Walker, who has always been a Eurosceptic, ‘agonised’ over his final decision, but said he would never forgive himself if backing the leave campaign resulted in jobs being lost in Worcester.
“As someone who is proud to be a Member of Parliament for a city I love, the place I grew up and care about passionately, I need to be able to look people in Worcester in the eye and say I believe I voted in their best interests,” Mr Walker said.
“Although, in this debate, my vote will count no more than any other in Worcester, I could not hold my head up high if I believed I had taken the wrong decision on such an important matter.
“I could not forgive myself if my decision to leave led to jobs being lost locally or businesses reducing investment.
“Europe is not perfect and the Prime Minister’s deal has not transformed it completely.
“But I believe that on balance the benefits of staying in and fighting for further change are now greater than the uncertainty of leaving.
“The risks of leaving are much greater than those of staying in. I can look people in Worcester in the eye and say that I now believe we are better off staying in,” he added.
*To read Robin Walker’s reasons for Britain remaining in the EU, follow the link below.
IN DEPTH: Why Worcester’s MP will vote for Britain to remain in EU
