WARRINGTON faces a huge threat to its jobs and will pay a 'big economic price' after Brexit, a leading Remain campaigner has warned.

Lord Andrew Adonis spoke at the official launch of cross-party grassroots campaign group Warrington for Europe at Goodwin's Restaurant and Bar, on Centre Park, on Monday.

The 55-year-old toured Leave areas around the UK before the summer.

But he is now on a mission to rally 'pro-European forces' and encourage the public to 'make a stand' for a People's Vote on the final terms of the Brexit deal.

He said: "I wanted to really engage with why people voted Leave and it became very clear to me, particularly in the Midlands and north of England, there is a massive sense of disengagement and alienation.

"I meet almost no one who thinks the Brexit process is going well – no one quite knew what they were voting for."

The Labour peer – who is a former transport secretary and education minister – also slammed Leave campaigners for telling the public 'a pack of lies'.

And he issued an alarming warning to Warrington, which he believes will pay a 'big economic price' if the UK departs from the EU.

Lord Adonis said: "Here in Warrington, you've got Unilever quite close by, which is about to move its head office to the Netherlands – and you've got a lot of other big employers who are looking to disinvest from this area if Brexit goes ahead."

He also believes the threat to jobs is the biggest issue facing the town.

"I haven't met a single person who told me they consciously voted to be poorer, most people genuinely believed they would be better off," he said.

"With each week, there is more support for a People's Vote and, critically, support is growing in the Labour Party, where there is a resolution for the People's Vote at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool at the end of the month.

"It looks to me there could be a parliamentary majority for a People's Vote."

Warrington Guardian:

Lord Adonis also defended Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn over his stance.

He said: "Jeremy has spent his time making up his mind on Europe because historically he was anti-European.

"The Labour far-left, in the 1970s and 80s, was against Europe because they saw it, ironically, as a club of capitalists.

"But now they have come to realise if you want fair treatment of workers across Europe, you want a liberal society, you want units of Government that can stand up to Putin and Trump, and take on the multi-nationals who aren't paying their fair share of tax, the only way you can do that in the modern world is by being part of a European Union, who can argue and campaign against Trump and Putin on equal terms.

"So, Jeremy has been on a journey, I am very confident he will end up supporting a People's Vote.

"I think there will end up being a general election because if we stay in the EU that is such a big defeat for the Government – it would be hard for them to continue.

"But I hope we get a People’s Vote first."

Lord Adonis labelled his return to the town as a 'pilgrimage' following a visit in his younger days.

He added: "The last time I was in Warrington was when I was 18 in 1981 for one of the most famous by-elections in British history.

"It was the first by-election after the SDP had been formed when Roy Jenkins was re-entering British politics and he lost only very narrowly.

"The biggest issue he was campaigning on was staying in the European Union.

"I am a great fan of Roy Jenkins."

The UK is scheduled to depart from the EU on March 29 next year.

Warrington for Europe will carry out 'a morning of action' by the Skittles in the town centre on Saturday.

From 10am, people will be able to sign petitions, find out more about the campaign and take part in a 'Brexometer' to 'tell Warrington how you feel Brexit is going'.

For further information visit the Warrington for Europe Facebook page.