Europe

The Latest: Hammond urges fast EU concessions if UK remains

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Young people kiss each other at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, Sunday June 19, 2016 to support the ' Remain' voters in Britain's referendum. The campaign in the referendum over Britain's future in the European Union is about to resume full throttle after being on hold due to the killing of a popular lawmaker. British voters head to the polls on Thursday to decide if the country should stay in the European Union or leave it. (Joerg Carstensen/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)

Campaigners kiss and hug during a gathering, in front of Rome's ancient Colosseum, Sunday, June 19, 2016. With the “Anglo-European kiss-in” Britons and Europeans attempted to show love between Britain and Europe by kissing. British voters head to the polls on Thursday to decide if the country should stay in the European Union or leave it. (AP Photo/Fabio Frustaci) (The Associated Press)

Campaigners kiss and hug during a gathering, in front of Rome's ancient Colosseum, Sunday, June 19, 2016. With the “Anglo-European kiss-in” Britons and Europeans attempted to show love between Britain and Europe by kissing. British voters head to the polls on Thursday to decide if the country should stay in the European Union or leave it. (AP Photo/Fabio Frustaci) (The Associated Press)

The Latest on ahead of Britain's referendum on continued membership in the European Union (all times local):

9:30 a.m.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond will be pressing his European Union counterparts to swiftly implement negotiated concessions in case Britain votes to remain in the bloc on Thursday.

Prime Minister David Cameron won a series of goodwill concessions in February on immigration, the euro and staying out of ever-closer union, moves he hopes will persuade Brits to remain in the EU.

Speaking before the start of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg Monday, Hammond said Britons "will expect a speedy and complete implementation of the package that was agreed in February" if they vote to stay in the 28-nation bloc.

He added Brussels needs "to make sure that the EU works for all its people going forward and addresses the concerns of ordinary people."

EU President Donald Tusk has promised that the concessions would be implemented in "less than one year."

___

9:05 a.m.

A former Conservative Party chair has switched sides in Britain's upcoming European Union referendum, accusing campaigners promoting an exit from the 28-nation bloc of peddling hate and xenophobia.

Sayeeda Warsi said Monday that moderate voices in the "leave" campaign have been drowned out.

Warsi is one of the most prominent Muslim politicians in Britain. She said her decision was sparked by a poster depicting a crowd of migrants walking through Europe with a warning in capital letters that said: BREAKING POINT.

Warsi told the BBC that "this kind of nudge-nudge, wink-wink xenophobic racist campaign may be politically savvy or politically useful in the short term, but it causes long-term damage to communities."

Campaigners for "leave" were bemused by her decision, saying they weren't even aware she had been a supporter.