British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn urged voters today to remain in the European Union - but slammed the bloc's planned trade deal with the US, saying it threatens employment rights and hands power to "giant corporations."
Corbyn said his Labour Party would veto the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership if it forms a government.
But he backed EU membership for Britain, saying it had raised standards for workers, protected the environment, bolstered human rights and even reduced mobile-phone roaming charges.
Some "remain" campaigners have criticized Corbyn for not making a louder case for EU membership ahead of the June 23 referendum. The socialist Corbyn opposed Britain joining the bloc in a 1975 referendum.
In a speech in London, Corbyn said that "Europe needs to change ... But those changes can only be achieved by working with our allies."
With three weeks until voting day, the referendum campaign is growing increasingly heated as widely varying polls suggest an unpredictable result.
"In" campaigners are trying to keep the focus on the economic uncertainty that UK exit - known as "Brexit" - would wreak, while the "out" side is stressing the pressure uncontrolled immigration from other EU countries has had on Britain's economy and public services.
Other members of the 28-nation bloc are also weighing in, with a mix of entreaties to stay and warnings of the risk of Brexit.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that Britain would get better results from the EU "when you sit at the bargaining table," rather than if it were lobbying from outside.
Dozens of leading European cultural and sports figures signed a "love letter" to UK voters, intended to show "how wide and deep is the affection felt for Britain across our shared continent."
Signatories include Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA, Oscar-winning filmmaker Susanne Bier, actress-director Julie Delpy and Arsenal soccer team manager Arsene Wenger.
