TIM Farron urged Jeremy Corbyn to share a stage with him and fight to stay in the European Union in his opening speech at the Lib Dem Spring Conference today.

The Lib Dem Leader called on Labour voters to back him even if their own party 'remains blinkered' and 'sleepwalks towards the exit'.

He said to an audience of several hundred at York's Barbican Centre: "Do you remember the AV referendum?

"Do you remember, at the time, there was a newly elected left wing Labour leader who wouldn’t put his back into the campaign?

"Sound familiar? History seems to be repeating itself.

"Jeremy Corbyn, please do not let your own internal party chaos get in the way of winning this campaign.

"I know you may have wanted to leave in the past, but we treat your conversion as genuine and so I ask you to show the zeal of the convert and get on board.

"If ever there was a time you needed to show your party, and the country, that you can lead, now is that time.

"Shall we cross party lines, put our party interests aside for the good of our country?

"Because if you won't, I’ll make a direct appeal to those Labour party members now.

"The Liberal Democrats are a united force. We are Britain’s internationalist party.

"We believe in international cooperation, that Britain stands tall in the world because we stand tall in Europe, that British business is more successful, that our streets are safer, and we are better equipped for the challenges that don't stop at borders.

"If your party leadership remains blinkered to the risk, then your party is sleepwalking to the exit.

"So, come with us, share a platform, and let's make the positive, unified case that we all believe in.  

"Together, let’s make Britain’s future better, by making Britain’s future one that is in Europe. 

"The question is not whether Britain can survive alone, it is whether we are more able, better resourced or more capable of dealing with the big questions of our time on our own.

"If the leave campaign wish to play nasty, we can’t really affect that.


"When we face the world together, there is no doubt in my mind that for our future prosperity and safety, we should vote to remain."

Mr Farron laid out his key points about why Britain should vote to stay in Europe.

He said: "200,000 British companies currently export goods to Europe.

"Yes we pay in, but the CBI says Britain’s access to the European single market is worth 78 billion pounds.

"The car industry, reliant on European trade, employs 700,000 people.

"The single market gives us access to 500 million consumers.

"British families benefit from cheaper goods and services - everything from phone tariffs to flights are cheaper because of European cooperation.

"Thousands of criminals are no longer on our streets because our police can share information.

"And hundreds of criminals have been brought back to justice here in Britain.

"And British workers have better annual leave, they have better protections from harassment at work, and better maternity leave.

"Together we have strength in numbers.

"So there is an enormous net financial, economic and business benefit of being Europe.
"We are clear. Britain must not leave. Britain must lead."

On Sunday, there will be a debate on the regulated legalisation of cannabis. 

Mr Farron said 'no other party has the confidence' to discuss such an issue.

The conference continues.