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Boris Johnson wanted as figurehead by both sides in EU referendum campaign Boris Johnson wanted as figurehead by both sides in EU referendum campaign
(about 1 hour later)
Boris Johnson has been wooed by both the leave and the in camps to be a key figurehead in their respective EU referendum campaigns as the two sides seek to exploit the “Heineken” London mayor who can reach out to voters across the political spectrum. Boris Johnson has been wooed by both the in and out camps to be a key figure in their respective EU referendum campaigns as the two sides seek to exploit the “Heineken” London mayor who can reach out to voters across the political spectrum.
As the lengthy referendum battle kicks off on Friday with the launch of the leave campaign, allies of the London mayor have confirmed that the opposing camps have both independently decided that Johnson would be their ideal salesman. As the lengthy referendum battle kicks off on Friday with the launch of the out campaign, allies of the London mayor have confirmed that the opposing camps have both independently decided that Johnson would be their ideal salesman.
“It is interesting that both sides want to adopt Boris,” one Johnson ally said. “That shows the strength of what he is saying.”“It is interesting that both sides want to adopt Boris,” one Johnson ally said. “That shows the strength of what he is saying.”
Peter Mandelson, who is playing a leading role behind the scenes in organising the pro-EU in campaign, which launches on Monday, is said to be “mad keen” to sign up Johnson, who has strong personal connections with the in side. The Johnson ally said: “The yes side know Boris would be very important for them. Peter Mandelson is mad keen to get Boris on board. Boris of course won’t commit until much later.” Peter Mandelson, who is playing a leading role behind the scenes in organising the pro-EU campaign, which launches on Monday, is said to be eager to sign up Johnson, who has strong personal connections with the in side. The Johnson ally said: “The yes side know Boris would be very important for them. Peter Mandelson is mad keen to get Boris on board. Boris of course won’t commit until much later.”
The London mayor, who has been leaning towards the leave camp in recent months, will wait until David Cameron finalises his EU negotiation reforms before deciding which side to endorse. But Johnson made clear in his speech to the Tory conference this week that the prime minister should go further and place the free movement of people around the EU on the negotiating table. The London mayor, who has been leaning towards the out camp in recent months, will wait until David Cameron completes his EU negotiations before deciding which side to endorse. But Johnson made clear in his speech to the Tory conference this week that the prime minister should go further and place the free movement of people around the EU on the negotiating table.
In a sign of his interest in the leave camp, Johnson last met Dominic Cummings, the former special adviser to Michael Gove who is the leave group’s campaign director, to discuss his proposal for two referendums. Johnson is interested in his idea that the first referendum could open the way for a second – and more serious – set of negotiations that could lead to a new “grand bargain” between Britain and the EU. This could allow Johnson to burnish his eurosceptic credentials ahead of the Tory leadership contest by endorsing the leave campaign while claiming that he is not calling for a definitive break with the EU. In a sign of his interest in the out camp, Johnson last met its campaign director, Dominic Cummings, a former special adviser to Michael Gove, to discuss Cummings’ proposal for two referendums.
Cummings, the driving force behind Gove’s free schools programme, will seek to mark a break with the fusty image of eurosceptics with the launch of the leave campaign. He has dispensed with a traditional campaign launch at a press conference as the group seeks to focus attention on its website, which aims to win over young wavering voters in the higher income groups who might be put off a campaign to leave. Johnson is interested in his idea that the first referendum could open the way for a second – and more serious – set of negotiations that could lead to a new “grand bargain” between Britain and the EU. This could allow Johnson to burnish his Eurosceptic credentials before the Tory leadership contest by endorsing the out campaign while claiming that he is not calling for a definitive break with the EU.
The cross-party group will release a new poll, taken after the prime minister’s conference speech on Wednesday, which shows that 53% of British voters would back the campaign to leave the EU if the prime minister fails to end the primacy of EU law. The poll found that in such circumstances, 47% of voters would wish to stay. But the ICM poll of 1,947 people on the evening of 7 October found that the in campaign leads (by 44% to 39%) on the simple question of whether Britain should remain in the EU. Cummings, the driving force behind Gove’s free schools programme, will seek to break from the fusty image of Eurosceptics with the launch of the out campaign. He has dispensed with a traditional campaign launch at a press conference as the group seeks to focus attention on its website, which aims to win over young wavering voters in the higher income groups who might be put off a campaign to leave.
The campaign has attracted figures from all the major parties, including the Green peer Jenny Jones, and the joint Nobel peace winner and former Northern Ireland first minister Lord Trimble. Matthew Elliott, who played a key role in defeating Nick Clegg’s plans for electoral reform in the No to AV campaign in 2011, will serve as chief executive. The group will have three treasurers from across the board: the spreadbetting millionaire Stuart Wheeler, who defected from the Tories to Ukip; the former Tory treasurer Peter Cruddas; and the Labour donor John Mills, who is one of the few links with the no side in the 1975 EEC referendum. The cross-party group will release a new poll, taken after the prime minister’s conference speech on Wednesday, which shows that 53% of British voters would back the campaign to leave the EU if the prime minister failed to end the primacy of EU law. The poll found that in such circumstances, 47% of voters would wish to stay. But the ICM poll of 1,947 people on the evening of 7 October found that the in campaign leads 44%-39% on the simple question of whether Britain should remain in the EU.
The out campaign has attracted figures from all the major parties, including the Green peer Jenny Jones, and the joint Nobel peace winner and former Northern Ireland first minister Lord Trimble. Matthew Elliott, who played a key role in defeating Nick Clegg’s plans for electoral reform in the No to AV campaign in 2011, will serve as chief executive.
The group will have three treasurers from across the board: the spread-betting millionaire Stuart Wheeler, who defected from the Tories to Ukip; the former Tory treasurer Peter Cruddas; and the Labour donor John Mills, who is one of the few links with the no side in the 1975 EEC referendum.
In a sign of its reach, the campaign has won over the Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, Khalid Mahmood, who says Britain should leave the EU to allow an increase in migration from Commonwealth countries. Mahmood said: “If we leave the EU, we will be able to stop the current immoral, expensive and out-of-control immigration system. We currently have an open door to EU migrants but block people from non-EU countries who could contribute to the UK – in particular from the Commonwealth.”In a sign of its reach, the campaign has won over the Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, Khalid Mahmood, who says Britain should leave the EU to allow an increase in migration from Commonwealth countries. Mahmood said: “If we leave the EU, we will be able to stop the current immoral, expensive and out-of-control immigration system. We currently have an open door to EU migrants but block people from non-EU countries who could contribute to the UK – in particular from the Commonwealth.”
Johnson showed the impact of the leave campaign on his thinking when he used its buzzword in his conference speech. “It is about control,” the London mayor said, over the need for parliament to decide on immigration levels. Johnson showed the effect of the out campaign on his thinking when he used its buzzword in his conference speech. “It is about control,” the London mayor said about the need for parliament to decide on immigration levels.
Kate Hoey, a supporter of the Labour leave campaign, said: “We must end the supremacy of EU law over UK law. If we vote to leave, then the £350m we send to Brussels every week can be spent on our priorities like the NHS. I want to see a campaign which brings together those from all parts of the UK who want to take back control of our countries’ laws to the British parliament.” Kate Hoey, a supporter of the Labour out campaign, said: “We must end the supremacy of EU law over UK law. If we vote to leave, then the £350m we send to Brussels every week can be spent on our priorities like the NHS. I want to see a campaign which brings together those from all parts of the UK who want to take back control of our countries’ laws to the British parliament.”
The out campaign suffered a blow when Lord Harris of Peckham, the carpet millionaire who has funded a series of academy schools, announced he was leaving Business for Britain, its sister body. BfB, which is committed to UK membership of the EU if major reforms can be achieved, is led by Elliott.
Harris said: “I am for staying in Europe but not being controlled by Europe. I wouldn’t want to pull out. I no longer agree with Matthew Elliott’s position on this as this was not what I signed up to.”