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| Stuart Rose to launch EU campaign saying true patriots are not inward-looking | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Lord Rose, the chairman of Britain Stronger in Europe, will try to defuse the claim that pro-Europeans are unpatriotic by launching the campaign to keep Britain inside the EU with the claim that true patriots do not withdraw, retreat and become inward-looking. | Lord Rose, the chairman of Britain Stronger in Europe, will try to defuse the claim that pro-Europeans are unpatriotic by launching the campaign to keep Britain inside the EU with the claim that true patriots do not withdraw, retreat and become inward-looking. |
| Rose will also deride those calling for British withdrawal from the EU as quitters, saying that they have no true idea of Britain’s future outside the EU as he unveils the new board of the Britain Stronger in Europe group. Neither David Cameron nor Jeremy Corbyn will be present at the high-profile launch event, but three previous prime ministers – Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and John Major – will all endorse the campaign. Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron accused Corbyn and Cameron of pathetic prevarication, adding: “I believe we must lead, not leave”. | Rose will also deride those calling for British withdrawal from the EU as quitters, saying that they have no true idea of Britain’s future outside the EU as he unveils the new board of the Britain Stronger in Europe group. Neither David Cameron nor Jeremy Corbyn will be present at the high-profile launch event, but three previous prime ministers – Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and John Major – will all endorse the campaign. Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron accused Corbyn and Cameron of pathetic prevarication, adding: “I believe we must lead, not leave”. |
| Rose, the former executive chairman of Marks and Spencer, and currently chairman of online grocer Ocado, has been chosen to head up the campaign in a bid to show that the in campaigners are not pro-European obsessives but practical people with a considered judgment on Britain’s best long-term interests. | Rose, the former executive chairman of Marks and Spencer, and currently chairman of online grocer Ocado, has been chosen to head up the campaign in a bid to show that the in campaigners are not pro-European obsessives but practical people with a considered judgment on Britain’s best long-term interests. |
| Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, described the campaign as “a group of yesterday’s men and big corporate business”, while the eurosceptic former Conservative cabinet minister Owen Paterson said Britain was facing its biggest choice since the English Reformation in the 16th century. | Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, described the campaign as “a group of yesterday’s men and big corporate business”, while the eurosceptic former Conservative cabinet minister Owen Paterson said Britain was facing its biggest choice since the English Reformation in the 16th century. |
| At the launch on Monday, Rose will say: “Those of you who know me will know that I am not an uncritical fan of the European Union. Far from it. That’s why I signed a letter arranged by Business for Britain calling for reform of the EU. Wanting reform, however, is not the same as wanting to leave. | At the launch on Monday, Rose will say: “Those of you who know me will know that I am not an uncritical fan of the European Union. Far from it. That’s why I signed a letter arranged by Business for Britain calling for reform of the EU. Wanting reform, however, is not the same as wanting to leave. |
| “To claim that the patriotic course for Britain is to retreat, withdraw and become inward-looking is to misunderstand who we are as a nation. In this ever-changing and very uncertain world we need to engage with strength. | “To claim that the patriotic course for Britain is to retreat, withdraw and become inward-looking is to misunderstand who we are as a nation. In this ever-changing and very uncertain world we need to engage with strength. |
| “I will not allow anyone to tell me I’m any less British because I believe in the strongest possible Britain for business, for our security and our society.” | “I will not allow anyone to tell me I’m any less British because I believe in the strongest possible Britain for business, for our security and our society.” |
| The campaign also confirmed that a group of cross-party ‘champions’ are also joining as backers of Britain Stronger in Europe. They include Conservative party politicians Flick Drummond MP, Sajjad Karim MEP, Ben Howlett MP, and campaign board member Damian Green MP, together with the Liberal Democrat peer Jim Wallace, Green party MP and campaign board member Caroline Lucas and Labour party MPs Emma Reynolds, Margaret Hodge, Stephen Kinnock and Chuka Umunna. | The campaign also confirmed that a group of cross-party ‘champions’ are also joining as backers of Britain Stronger in Europe. They include Conservative party politicians Flick Drummond MP, Sajjad Karim MEP, Ben Howlett MP, and campaign board member Damian Green MP, together with the Liberal Democrat peer Jim Wallace, Green party MP and campaign board member Caroline Lucas and Labour party MPs Emma Reynolds, Margaret Hodge, Stephen Kinnock and Chuka Umunna. |
| No close associates of the Corbyn leadership have joined the campaign, and the shadow foreign secretary, Hilary Benn, is wary of the cross-party campaign, fearing it may not send the right messages to traditional Labour supporters. | No close associates of the Corbyn leadership have joined the campaign, and the shadow foreign secretary, Hilary Benn, is wary of the cross-party campaign, fearing it may not send the right messages to traditional Labour supporters. |
| It is understood his team are arguing the party spends as much as £20,000 working out the key messages the pro-Europe Labour campaign, led by the former cabinet minister Alan Johnson, will send out. The Benn team are anxious that traditional working class voters are not driven into the arms of Ukip by what might look like a pro-business London elite. | It is understood his team are arguing the party spends as much as £20,000 working out the key messages the pro-Europe Labour campaign, led by the former cabinet minister Alan Johnson, will send out. The Benn team are anxious that traditional working class voters are not driven into the arms of Ukip by what might look like a pro-business London elite. |
| Farage tried to play down the differences between the two anti-Europe campaigns Vote Leave and Leave.EU. In a bid to smooth over the split in the camps, Farage said they were “complementary” not “contradictory” and predicted they would ultimately merge, holding out the hope that Boris Johnson might yet decide to lead the Leave campaign. | Farage tried to play down the differences between the two anti-Europe campaigns Vote Leave and Leave.EU. In a bid to smooth over the split in the camps, Farage said they were “complementary” not “contradictory” and predicted they would ultimately merge, holding out the hope that Boris Johnson might yet decide to lead the Leave campaign. |
| Farage has previously said Ukip will stand “hand in hand” with the Leave.EU group – launched at Ukip’s conference and funded by party donor Arron Banks. | Farage has previously said Ukip will stand “hand in hand” with the Leave.EU group – launched at Ukip’s conference and funded by party donor Arron Banks. |
| But speaking to the BBC’s Sunday Politics programme, the Ukip leader said both groups had his support, as they targeted “different audiences”. He said Vote Leave were “a Westminster-based group, making business arguments, including the need for the UK to be free to make its own trade deals. That is of value.”. | But speaking to the BBC’s Sunday Politics programme, the Ukip leader said both groups had his support, as they targeted “different audiences”. He said Vote Leave were “a Westminster-based group, making business arguments, including the need for the UK to be free to make its own trade deals. That is of value.”. |
| He added: “Leave.EU is an entirely different thing, aiming at a completely different audience. They are talking about our ability to control our country, the ability to control our borders and they’re reaching out to millions of ordinary people, employing business techniques, the likes of which have never been seen in British politics, and they’ve signed up over 200,000 people in the first eight weeks of their existence. | He added: “Leave.EU is an entirely different thing, aiming at a completely different audience. They are talking about our ability to control our country, the ability to control our borders and they’re reaching out to millions of ordinary people, employing business techniques, the likes of which have never been seen in British politics, and they’ve signed up over 200,000 people in the first eight weeks of their existence. |
| “These are two campaigns that are actually going for two different market audiences. I don’t see them as contradictory. Actually, I see them as complementary.” | “These are two campaigns that are actually going for two different market audiences. I don’t see them as contradictory. Actually, I see them as complementary.” |
| Farage also said that the referendum could not be won without putting the issue of immigration at the heart of the campaign. “What this referendum is really all about is: are we governing our own country? Are we in control of our lives and our destiny? And a key part of that is: can we control our borders?” | Farage also said that the referendum could not be won without putting the issue of immigration at the heart of the campaign. “What this referendum is really all about is: are we governing our own country? Are we in control of our lives and our destiny? And a key part of that is: can we control our borders?” |
| The opposing campaigns | The opposing campaigns |
| There are two main groups supporting the campaign to vote for the UK to leave the EU. Should they refuse to merge, the Electoral Commission will decide which is designated the official EU exit campaign. The official in campaign is due to be launched on Monday. | There are two main groups supporting the campaign to vote for the UK to leave the EU. Should they refuse to merge, the Electoral Commission will decide which is designated the official EU exit campaign. The official in campaign is due to be launched on Monday. |
| Out | Out |
| Leave.EU Supported by the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, and founded by the party’s donor, Arron Banks. Leave.EU was originally named the Know and was rebranded when it was proposed the wording of the referendum question be amended to include explicit mention of leaving the EU. | Leave.EU Supported by the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, and founded by the party’s donor, Arron Banks. Leave.EU was originally named the Know and was rebranded when it was proposed the wording of the referendum question be amended to include explicit mention of leaving the EU. |
| Vote Leave Has the backing of Ukip’s only MP, Douglas Carswell, and also represents the respective anti-EU groups set up by Conservative and Labour MPs and peers. Business for Britain, which wants Britain to exit the EU if reforms prove unsatisfactory, also backs Vote Leave. Supporters include Kate Hoey, Ukip treasurer Stuart Wheeler, author Frederick Forsyth and City millionaire and Tory donor Peter Cruddas. | Vote Leave Has the backing of Ukip’s only MP, Douglas Carswell, and also represents the respective anti-EU groups set up by Conservative and Labour MPs and peers. Business for Britain, which wants Britain to exit the EU if reforms prove unsatisfactory, also backs Vote Leave. Supporters include Kate Hoey, Ukip treasurer Stuart Wheeler, author Frederick Forsyth and City millionaire and Tory donor Peter Cruddas. |
| In | In |
| Britain Stronger in Europe The official campaign for an in vote is led by Stuart Rose. The Labour party has also launched a pro-EU campaign headed by the former cabinet minister Alan Johnson. | Britain Stronger in Europe The official campaign for an in vote is led by Stuart Rose. The Labour party has also launched a pro-EU campaign headed by the former cabinet minister Alan Johnson. |
| Kevin Rawlinson | Kevin Rawlinson |