'˜Gingers for EU' puts fun back into debate

A Blackpool politician has been inspired by his hair colour to set up a campaign group which is rooting to keep Britain in the EU.
Blackpool councillor Luke Tayloe has launched his campaign group 'Gingers for EU' which is campaigning against Brexit. Luke with his ginger-themed EU flag.Blackpool councillor Luke Tayloe has launched his campaign group 'Gingers for EU' which is campaigning against Brexit. Luke with his ginger-themed EU flag.
Blackpool councillor Luke Tayloe has launched his campaign group 'Gingers for EU' which is campaigning against Brexit. Luke with his ginger-themed EU flag.

Labour councillor Luke Taylor has launched ‘Gingers for EU’ - a pro Europe group which he hopes will inject some fun into the debate while highlighting serious issues.

Using social media, he has already attracted around 350 supporters.

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Coun Taylor, who represents Clifton ward on Blackpool Council, said: “I thought to myself that politics can get boring and samey and I decided to start a campaign to stay in the EU with a difference so I started ‘Gingers for EU’.

Bispham Councillor Luke Tayloe has launched his campaign group 'Gingers for EU' which is campaigning against BrexitBispham Councillor Luke Tayloe has launched his campaign group 'Gingers for EU' which is campaigning against Brexit
Bispham Councillor Luke Tayloe has launched his campaign group 'Gingers for EU' which is campaigning against Brexit

“But before people rush to the hairdressers to get their hair dyed, they can join if they’re not ginger, you just need to like gingers.

“Since we started on social media on the day of the announcement of the referendum date, we have been inundated with support from gingers and not-so gingers, from all political parties and more importantly people who are not members of any parties.

“In terms of the referendum we shouldn’t care what party you’re in, if you’re in a party.

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“We saw from the Scottish referendum that people from all aspects of life became involved in the big debate of whether Scotland should sever ties with the UK.

Bispham Councillor Luke Tayloe has launched his campaign group 'Gingers for EU' which is campaigning against BrexitBispham Councillor Luke Tayloe has launched his campaign group 'Gingers for EU' which is campaigning against Brexit
Bispham Councillor Luke Tayloe has launched his campaign group 'Gingers for EU' which is campaigning against Brexit

“From this a new generation of people became involved in politics and this should be sought in this referendum.”

Coun Taylor is urging people to vote to stay in the EU when the referendum is held on Thursday June 23.

He added: “The EU referendum is about more than a rivalry between two old school chums and it’s about more than politicians in the ‘Westminster bubble’ tearing shreds out of each other.

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“I am for the United Kingdom remaining a part of the EU for so many reasons - the right to travel and live anywhere within the EU, the collaboration between the 28 member states in matters of security and prosperity 
and the unrivalled access we get to a 12 trillion pound single market of 500 million people.”

But Fylde-based campaigners backing Britain’s exit from the EU said they hoped folk would give ‘Gingers for EU’ the brush off.

Roy Hopwood, a member of the Blackpool and Cleveleys branch of UKIP (UK Independence Party), said: “For many reasons, we believe Britain will be better off out of the EU.

“We will be saving £20bn a year that could be spent 
on desperately needed public services in this country.”

“But the key things are our sovereignty - the right to govern our country, and our democracy to enable us to hold our law-makers to account.”