EU referendum: World invests £880 a second in the UK says David Miliband in Remain plea

David Miliband will make another intervention in the EU referendum campaign by warning that international investment in the UK could be hit if Britain breaks away from Brussels. The former foreign secretary will outline the economic argument alongside Labour In For Britain chief Alan Johnson, as the Remain campaigners visit Birmingham on 3 June.

Miliband, who lost the 2010 Labour leadership election to his brother Ed, will claim the world invests £800 a second in the UK and creates 10 new jobs an hour thanks to the UK's membership of the EU.

"The UK is a fantastic place to invest. Our success at attracting investment from around the world is boosting growth and creating jobs," he will argue.

"International investment, is testimony to the importance of foreign investment. It's clear that investment is encouraged, enhanced and emboldened by the UK's membership of the European Union.

"Furthermore, the EU, as the world's largest single market, offers the chances to protect citizens from the risk of market excess, including in the financial sector."

Miliband and Johnson are also expected to say that inward investment into financial services earns the UK £442 a second, while annual inward investment to the sector creates more than 189 new jobs a week.

The Vote Leave campaign has previously claimed that the EU benefits multinationals, not British businesses. Brexit campaigner and German-born Labour MP Gisela Stuart said: "The reality is not even the European Commission can find significant evidence that the EU has benefited the UK's service exporters but it has benefited the giant multinational companies which spend millions lobbying Brussels each year.

"The safer choice for British business is to Vote Leave on 23 June and to take back control of our economy and the £350 million we send to Brussels each week. This will be good for jobs and growth."

The latest online opinion poll from YouGov, of more than 1,700 people between 30 and 31 May, put Leave and Remain neck-and-neck on 41%, with 13% of respondents undecided.