Prime Minster says ‘peace at risk’ if Britain leaves the EU

Prime Minster David Cameron has warned ‘that peace could be put at risk’ if Britain leaves the EU.

Mr Cameron, making the case to stay in the EU in his speech in London today, focused on security rather than business as both sides bring out the big guns ahead of next month’s referendum.

The BBC reports ‘the UK has regretted turning its back on Europe in the past, the PM said, arguing the European Union has “helped reconcile” countries and maintain peace’.

In his speech Mr Cameron argued that the EU – with Britain in it – had helped bring together countries that had been at each others’  throats for decades’.

He warned the peace and stability Europe has enjoyed in recent years could not be guaranteed.

Mr Cameron said: “Can we be so sure that peace and stability on our continent are assured beyond any shadow of doubt? Is that a risk worth taking? I would never be so rash as to make that assumption.”

The Guardian, in its live blog, reports ‘Cameron says the UK’s friends and biggest trading partners around the world want Britain to stay in the EU’.

It goes on: ‘Cameron says there are four reasons why staying in the EU makes us safer. First, what happens in Europe affects us, whether we are in the EU or not.

‘Second, there is strength in numbers. We are safer acting with EU partners.

‘Third, the complexity of things like cyber-crime means that we need to cooperate with other countries.

‘And, fourth, being in the EU amplifies our power.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson, who wants the UK to leave the EU, will make a speech on the ‘cosmopolitan case for Brexit’.

Mr Johnson – now free from his role as London mayor – will begin a battle bus tour of the country on behalf of the Leave campaign later this week.

Gordon Brown, the former Labour Prime Minister, will on Wednesday warn about the economic risk of leaving the European Union.

There are just over six weeks to go until the June 23 referendum which will decide whether Britain remains in or leaves the EU.

Photo courtesy of Gov.uk