Britain should stay in Europe for prosperity and security: Bill Clinton

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton intervened in the British referendum debate on separation from the European Union, urging Britons to vote June 23 to remain within the EU.

He made his call in Thursday edition of the London-based weekly current affairs publication, the New Statesman.

Writing that continued membership of the EU would protect prosperity and security, Clinton added that the U.S. continues to value Britain playing its full part in the EU.

The United States played a key role in helping in the Good Friday Peace Process of 1998 that brought an end to decades-long Northern Ireland conflict.

Clinton wrote: "The decision on Europe is one for the British people, and the world will respect their judgment. They should know, however, how much America and the rest of the world have valued -- and continue to value -- a strong United Kingdom playing its full part in a strong European Union. Transatlantic co-operation is essential, and that co-operation is strongest when Europe is united.

"In a tumultuous world, marked by slow growth, excessive inequality, massive refugee flows, and sectarian violence, it's tempting to believe we can reduce our exposure and increase our personal and economic security by turning inward and keeping the world's problems out.

"It is also important not to minimize the benefits of EU membership to the UK. I was honored to support the peace process in Northern Ireland. It has benefited from the UK's membership in the European Union, and I worry that the future prosperity and peace of Northern Ireland could be jeopardized if Britain withdraws.

"I have seen the difference your leadership has made both within the EU, and as a leading representative of Europe throughout the world. I hope you will stay."

Meanwhile, heavyweights from the Remain campaign heading north of the English border and across the Irish Sea Thursday to warn of the economies of Scotland and Northern Ireland if Brexit wins the June 23 referendum on membership of the European Union.

Two former prime ministers, the Conservative John Major and Labour's Tony Blair held hands in Belfast to urge people in the province to vote to stay in the EU.

In Scotland, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne outlined a doomsday scenario for the country if Scots vote to leave. Osborne claimed a leave success would wipe 6.5 billion U.S. dollars from the Scottish economy, increasing unemployment in the country over the next two years by 43,000.

The tactics of both campaigning expeditions were denounced by the Leave camp as scaremongering.

Osborne defended his claims saying they came from an analysis published Thursday by the Treasury, saying leaving the EU would cause a profound economic shock to the Scottish economy.

He said the Treasury analysis also showed the value of houses in Scotland would fall by around 32,000 U.S. dollars over two years. He also said the EU accounts for 43 percent of all exports from Scotland, adding mainland European companies had created or protected 16,000 jobs in Scotland. He also cited the importance of Scottish tourism which employs 280,000 people and agriculture in the country had received 732 million U.S. dollars in grants since 2014 from the EU Common Agricultural Policy.

In London, Leave said Osborne was making a desperate attempt to scare voters to back the Remain side by using what they described as "made up statistics."

Waiting in the wings to address a rally in Glasgow were two Labour Party big names, former leader Neil Kinnock and Scottish-born Gordon Brown, the former premier and former Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Brown's intervention in the Scottish independence referendum played a critical role in persuading the Scots to remain within Britain.

Tom Harris of the Scottish Vote Leave campaign said: "The people of Scotland won't take kindly to the Tory austerity chancellor (Osborne) coming to Scotland in a desperate attempt to scare voters into backing remain.

"His made up statistics have been dismissed by supporters of his own side as scaremongering, and it's about time the chancellor stopped talking down Scotland and the UK's economy."

The Scottish fishing and farming industries have been "decimated" by the EU, said the Leave campaign, adding that a Brexit vote would protect both sectors by handing control to the Scottish parliament.

(APD)