EU referendum: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn appeals to young people to back EU which he doesn’t love but UK benefits from

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Historically thought of as eurosceptic, Jeremy Corbyn today appealed to younger voters to back Remain in the EU referendum while admitting that he doesn't love the EU, but the UK benefits from it.

Speaking in Liverpool, Corbyn said that turnout at the General Election last year was just 47 per cent of young people who were registered, with many unregistered.

"Take destiny in your own hands. Register to vote and make your decision," he said. 

"I don't want us to limit the horizons, opportunities and chance for young people to be able to travel around Europe and study elsewhere."

Polling suggests that younger voters will be less likely to be registered or vote in the upcoming referendum, while also being more pro-EU than older voters.

Read more: Why are EU citizens coming to the UK?

Corbyn has echoed sentiments already made by Prime Minister David Cameron in trying to appeal to younger voters to turn up and vote on the 23 June. 

Britain Stronger In Europe, the officially designated Remain campaign group, even launched a scheme titled "Talk to Gran", attempting to push younger voters to convince their grandparents of the merits of the EU (much in the vein of the "Ring Your Granny" campaign in the Irish gay marriage referendum that is thought to have had an impact on that vote.)

However, Corbyn continued by explaining why he was backing Remain, "not because I love the institution" but because the UK benefits from its environmental policies, ability to tackle international tax avoidance and advance social security.

The Labour leader has in recent weeks ramped up his contribution to the EU debate, after what was deemed to be a lacklustre start, building a case on workers' rights, the environment and tackling the power of large corporations. 

Read more: Major attacks some fellow Conservatives for "morphing into Ukip"

"Those that are funding the Leave campaign are often people that want us to go into the bargain basement on taxation, on regulation, on workers' safety," Corbyn said.

As he concluded, Corbyn again reached out directly to younger people, saying: "Be optimistic about the kind of world we can achieve together."

Concluding, in his typical modesty, when asked if he was doing enough to garner support among Labour supporters, he replied: "I'm always mobilising people all the time. It's what i do."

Oh, and here's the selfie he took.