Brits Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley back staying in EU

Actress Keira Knightley. AFP FILE PHOTO

LONDON—British stars including Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley and Patrick Stewart urged voters to back staying in the European Union in a joint letter on Friday.

Signed by 282 people from the worlds of film, music and literature, the letter was published in the Daily Telegraph as Britain prepares for a June 23 referendum on whether to remain in the 28-member bloc.

“Britain is not just stronger in Europe, it is more imaginative and more creative, and our global creative success would be severely weakened by walking away,” the letter read.

“Leaving Europe would be a leap into the unknown for millions of people across the UK who work in the creative industries, and for the millions more at home and abroad who benefit from the growth and vibrancy of Britain’s cultural sector.”

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Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle and poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy put their name to the call, as did authors Hilary Mantel and John le Carre and designer Vivienne Westwood.

Actors Helena Bonham Carter, Kristin Scott Thomas, Bill Nighy, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Dominic West also signed, as did music stars Hot Chip and Paloma Faith.

Prime Minister David Cameron has warned that leaving the EU would damage Britain’s economy, but those campaigning to leave argue it will save money and give Britain greater control over immigration.

Polls indicate that voters are split.

Citing William Shakespeare and David Bowie, the letter urged that British creativity “inspires and influences the rest of the world”.

“We believe that being part of the EU bolsters Britain’s leading role on the world stage,” it read.

“Let’s not become an outsider shouting from the wings.”

But Michael Dobbs, a Conservative member of the British upper house of parliament who helped write and produce the Netflix hit series “House of Cards”, said Britain’s strength in the arts was “not because of the EU”.

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“Ancient Greece was the birthplace of our civilization yet today, because of the EU’s appalling policies, streets that were once filled with the world’s greatest philosophers and playwrights are choked with desperate beggars and mountains of rotting rubbish,” he said.

“These are the realities of the EU. It’s failing. The dream is dead. We need to move on.”