As the Brexit referendum campaign gained momentum, Prime Minister David Cameron today warned that Britain's exit from the EU could descend Europe into conflict and put peace at risk.
Cameron said the European Union had helped maintain peace on the continent and Britain should vote to remain a part of the 28-member economic bloc in the June 23 referendum.
"The European Union has helped reconcile countries which were at each others' throats for decades. Britain has a fundamental national interest in maintaining common purpose in Europe to avoid future conflict between European countries. And that requires British leadership, and for Britain to remain a member," he said in a speech at the British Museum here.
"Europe is our immediate neighbourhood. The stronger we are in our neighbourhood, the stronger we are in the world," he said, posing questions in the event of a Brexit: "Can we be so sure that peace and stability on our continent are assured beyond any shadow of doubt? Is that a risk worth taking? I would never be so rash as to make that assumption."
He ranked 2016 alongside other major events in European history, including the Spanish Armada in 1588, the battles of Blenheim and Waterloo in 1704 and 1815 respectively, the two World Wars, as well as the fall of the Berlin Wall.
"The truth is this: what happens in our neighbourhood matters to Britain. That was true in 1914, in 1940 and in 1989. Or, you could add 1588, 1704 and 1815... And if things go wrong in Europe, let's not pretend we can be immune from the consequences," he said.
Today's major speech came as the referendum campaign heats up with just over six weeks to go.
The opposing Vote Leave campaign immediately attacked back, saying: "During the renegotiation the PM said he 'ruled nothing out'. Now he thinks leaving the EU would lead to war. What changed?"
Polls showed the two campaigns were neck-and-neck.
Former London mayor Boris Johnson, a leading voice in the Vote Leave camp, gave a rival speech claiming "we would be mad not to take this once in a lifetime chance".
HeaccusedCameron of "corroding" trust in British politics by saying he will cut netimmigration to tens of thousands and failing.
"It isdeeply corrosive of popular trust in politics that every year people in power say they can cut immigration to tens of thousands and then fail. We have absolutely no power to control the number of people coming. I am in favour of immigration but also in favour of control," he said.
