On 23rd June 2016 we will make one of the most important political decisions in a lifetime. This decision will affect not only our generation, but also future generations.

I am backing the Vote Remain Campaign to keep Britain in the European Union.

Labour’s campaign is calling for Britain to stay in Europe, to protect working people and to stand up for rights in the workplace.

The EU has benefitted people in Salford. For the economy, for jobs and for equal rights for everyone, staying in the EU outweighs the benefits of leaving.

The EU has helped us to secure:

• The legal right to equal pay.
• Guaranteed rights for people who work part time or who want to work flexibly.
• Paid maternity leave and the right to return to work without a loss of position or pay.
• Protection from discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

If we leave the EU we would be reliant on the Conservative Government protecting these rights but they have a poor track record on that. For instance the Conservative Government has been weak on enforcing the National Minimum Wage, particularly in the care sector. I do not trust them to protect the rights that we have won from the EU.

The EU has helped to protect our environment. Salford has the 5th worst level of air pollution in the UK. We rely on the EU air quality regulations to protect us from damaging road developments. It was due to EU regulations on air quality that Highways England was not allowed to run traffic on the hard shoulder of the M60, which would have brought air pollution closer to homes and schools.  I do not trust the Conservative Government to take action on the environment if we leave the EU.

This is one of the most important decisions we have to take. The EU is benefitting and protecting jobs, rights at work and the environment for people in Salford.

I believe that Britain’s continued membership of the EU is vital to jobs and to our prosperity. We are much stronger if we stay in the EU and that is why I am campaigning with Labour In for Britain and why I will be voting for Britain to remain in the European Union on 23rd June.

Click here to see a short video of Barbara talking about the EU Referendum.