Leaving EU would be ‘historic error,’ UK group says

The pro-Europe campaigning group British Influence (set up formally as 'Centre for British Influence Through Europe' in February 2013) launched its political programme on the 15 July 2013.

The Conservative cabinet minister Ken Clarke had joined forces with Liberal Democrat Treasury Minister Danny Alexander and Labour's Lord Mandelson.

The group argued that the United Kingdom should abandon attempts to secure a new 'special deal' from the European Union and push instead for reform covering all 28 EU members. They also argued that to quit the EU would be an 'historic error'.

(Other organisations seen as supporting the UK's continued membership of the EU include:

+ European Movement: UK
http://www.euromove.org.uk/

+ Labour Movement for Europe
http://labourmovement.eu/

+ Young European Movement (YEM)
http://yem.org.uk/

+ Federal Union
http://www.federalunion.org.uk/

+ Liberal Democrat European Group
http://ldeg.org/en/

+ Conservative Europe Group
http://www.conservativeeuropegroup.org.uk/

+ The Churchill Group
http://thechurchillgroup.wordpress.com/

• Primary Source

The Guardian, 15.07.13: Ken Clarke, Danny Alexander and Lord Mandelson warn against EU exit http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jul/15/ken-clarke-danny-alexander-mandelson-eu

ESO: Background information: Centre for British Influence Through Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-british-influence/

British Influence: Blog, 15.07.13: Point of View: Better Off In a Better Europe http://britishinfluence.org/point-view-better-better-europe/

ESO: Background information: EU exit would be 'fatal mistake' says Ken Clarke http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-exit-would-be-fatal-mistake-says-ken-clarke/

EurActiv, 15.07.13: British group calls for reforms ‘from within’ the EU http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/british-group-calls-reforms-eu-news-529290

ESO: Background information: Britain needs a 'better deal' from the EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/britain-needs-a-better-deal-from-the-eu/

BBC News, 15.07.13: Ken Clarke: Leaving European Union would be error http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23306253

Blog: Jon Worth, 13.07.13: Pro-EU organisation building in the UK http://www.jonworth.eu/pro-eu-organisation-building-in-the-uk/

European Movement: Eurobriefing, 07.11.13: As the debate on the UK’s membership of the EU intensifies, more and more people are stepping forward and making the case in favour of EU membership. See what they say. http://ymlp.com/z97nXc

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