A FORMER Labour MP and his Tory successor have forged an unlikely bond as they urged commuters this morning to vote to stay in the EU.

Martin Salter and Alok Sharma led the cross-party campaign at Reading station alongside rival councillors as well as community supporters.

Handing out flyers and brandishing ‘Vote Remain’ placards, the Westminster politicians joined forces to set aside their political differences in the run-up to the EU referendum.

Among those canvassing residents outside the station were the Labour deputy leader of the council Cllr Tony Page, Liberal Democrat Ricky Duveen and former Conservative leader of the authority Andrew Cumpsty.

Mr Salter, who was Reading West MP from 1997 to 2010, said: “The future of our country is far more important than party politics.

“This is about jobs, the economy and Britain’s long-term prosperity, not about short-term political advantage.”

Mr Sharma added: “Our membership of the European Union is an issue which transcends party politics.

“That is why I have come together with representatives of other political parties to campaign for Britain to remain a member of the EU.”

Labour councillor Paul Gittings echoed the Tory MP’s worry that Brexit was not a risk worth taking.

“There are strong economic incentives to stay in the EU, such as access to the single European market,” argued Mr Gittings, lead councillor for culture, sport and consumer services.

“I believe that by working together with other EU countries we can better tackle important issues around climate change, consumer protection and tax avoidance.”

Mr Cumpsty said he was motivated to campaign because of his grandfather’s experiences in WWII fighting against German and Italian soldiers.

He believes that younger generations have forgotten the lessons of that conflict.

“If we start to take freedom and peace for granted, we will lose what we have gained. That would be a big mistake,” he said.

Karen Rowland, a community activist originally from Sweden, said the pro-EU campaign was close to her heart even though she had no say in the referendum.

“It is upsetting that we as EU immigrants do not obviously get to vote but we are contributing to society,” she said.

She added that both higher and lower-skilled immigrants help to prop up the British economy and feed its people.

The referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU takes place on Thursday June 23.