New pro-EU campaign launched
Tory peer Lord Maurice Saatchi has joined forces with campaigner Gina Miller to launch a new pro-Europe initiative.
The former Conservative Party chairman wants the Lead Not Leave project to refocus Britain's attitude to the EU.
The cross-party initiative, which is also backed by Labour peer Baroness Helena Kennedy, is pushing for the UK to remain in the EU and reform the bloc from the inside.
Lord Saatchi intends to kick-start the campaign on Monday by tabling an EU Membership Bill 2019 in the upper house which calls on the Government to negotiate terms with the EU to retain its "existing special membership".
The Bill seeks to gain stronger voting rights for the UK in the EU Council of Ministers.
Lord Saatchi said: "There is a much better alternative to leaving, don't leave, lead through a Remain Plus.
"We need a redistribution of power in Europe.
"The prospect of a no-deal Brexit or facing years of complex negotiations versus a solution that is a winwin is likely to be very attractive to both EU member states and the British people."
Anti-Brexit campaigner Ms Miller said: "It is time to take a step back from the brink, to think differently to end the divisions, to bring closure and get back the United Kingdom that used to make us all so proud."