It's critical we remain 'IN' says Councillor Andy Kelly!
Lib Dem Leader on Rochdale Council Councillor Andy Kelly has made a plea for local people to vote to remain in the EU. Next week's referendum is on a knife edge with polls indicating that 'Brexit' has now taken a lead in the polls. Councillor Kelly has claimed that immigration has become "...a political football" and claimed that leaving the EU could lead to job losses in Rochdale and throughout Greater Manchester.
Councillor Kelly said: "I'm IN because I've grown up in a peaceful post war Europe. I feel European and want my children and grandchildren to benefit from freedom of movement across the continent so they can work, study, trade or holiday. I would be seriously worried about massive job losses in the Greater Manchester if we leave. Immigration has been used as a political football in this campaign. People who come to work in this country contribute miles more than they take out, and leaving is not an excuse to absolve our responsibilities as a wealthy nation to genuine refugees and asylum seekers.
"That said we need to get our own house in order and stop blaming the EU for all our failings. I'm not saying it can't be better either, but I would much rather be in the tent than out, if you know what I mean. I get why people are flirting with leaving Europe but they need to be aware that being in Europe
"We've been working very hard to put the case to stay in Europe to the people of Rochdale. This is the most important decision we have to take for a generation. Just like in the football - I hope we get a positive result in Europe over the next few weeks. I really think that the scaremongering and lies told by people like Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Nigel Farage are putting the prosperity of our country at risk. Take for example their claim that leaving the EU will mean an extra £350 million a day for our NHS. This has proved to be a work of complete fiction by an independent experts. Yet they continue to mislead. I feel that the people of Rochdale should vote for a positive future and ignore the politics of fear."