Britain's Labour Party leader urges voters to back EU membership

Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on Thursday made his first major intervention in the country's European Union (EU) referendum campaign, urging voters to back continued membership in the bloc.

In a speech in central London, Corbyn said the Labour Party was "overwhelmingly for staying in."

"Labour is convinced that a vote to remain is in the best interests of the people of this country," he said.

Elaborating on his party's stance on the EU referendum, Corbyn stressed that staying in the EU would help Britain meet "huge challenges," ranging from climate change, cyber-crime, and terrorism to the refugee crisis.

"All these issues are serious and pressing, and require international cooperation. Collective international action through the European Union is clearly going to be vital to meeting these challenges," he explained.

In the speech, Corbyn also highlighted "a strong socialist case" for Britain staying in the bloc.

"By working together across our continent we can develop our economies, protect social and human rights, tackle climate change," he argued.

"You cannot build a better world unless you engage with the world, build allies, and deliver change," he added.

Meanwhile, the Labour leader also emphasized the need to reform the EU, calling for "democratic reform to make the EU more accountable to its people."

Corbyn has been critical of many EU practices over the years, but on Thursday he insisted "it's perfectly possible to be critical and still be convinced we need to remain a member." Endit