Newly formed "Cambridge for Europe" will campaign for Cambridge residents to vote for Britain to remain in the EU at the referendum due by 2017.
Speakers will highlight how Cambridge businesses benefit from access to the single market, that figures show a massive £68 million of Cambridge university's annual research income comes from the EU as well as drawing attention to the environmental and cultural benefits of EU membership to Cambridge.
Opening the event, Lord Smith, former Cabinet Minister and Master of Pembroke College will say: “There is a wonderfully wide range of people here this evening, including the Vice-Chancellor, the Chairman of Cambridge United, and many citizens of Cambridge and young people. We are launching a truly non-party, non-partisan, broad-based campaign.
"The EU referendum is the most important event for Britain this decade. It’s really important that we mobilise as many people as possible in support of Cambridge for Europe to ensure that the arguments are assembled and clearly understood. Over 40 years ago Cambridge recorded one of the strongest referendum votes in favour of membership. We need to repeat that performance this time.”
Keynote speaker businessman David Cleevely will say: “Cambridge is a world city, like London or New York or San Francisco. Its prosperity depends on being open to the world. Our trade, investment, recruitment depend on it. Our growth and research base depend on it. We are not a small town Hicksville. We have one of the top Universities in the world. We have some of the best technology in the world. We have some of the best brains and entrepreneurs in the world. We thrive on diversity and being open. Leaving the European Union threatens all of this.”
Joint Chair of Cambridge for Europe Sarah Squire comments: "Cambridge is leading the way as one of the first places in the UK to launch a local pro-EU campaign. It’s great that the campaign is already drawing in people from right across our community, who all share a concern to see Britain prosper as a strong member of the EU.”
Cambridge for Europe's support comes from across the political spectrum including Daniel Zeichner MP, Julian Huppert, his predecessor, Lord Richard Balfe (Conservative) Baroness Dr Julie Smith (Lib-Dem), and Green Party leaders.
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For further information please contact Robert Lowson on 07905 402 091