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EU referendum: Iain Duncan Smith 'troubled' by Remain conduct EU referendum: Duncan Smith attacks Remain 'smears'
(about 7 hours later)
The "acrimonious" conduct of the UK's EU Remain campaign risks damaging the government beyond the June referendum, Iain Duncan Smith has warned. Iain Duncan Smith says the "spin and smear" tactics being used by the campaign to stay in the EU risk long-term damage to the government.
Writing in the Daily Mail, the pro-exit work and pensions secretary said he had found its conduct "troubling". Writing in the Daily Mail, the work and pensions secretary said the Remain campaign's conduct was "troubling".
He said those making "desperate and unsubstantiated" claims about EU exit risked damaging their own integrity. The EU exit campaigner accused the other side - backed by most of his cabinet colleagues - of making "desperate and unsubstantiated" claims.
Number 10 refused to comment, but Prime Minister David Cameron has previously called for a respectful debate. Number 10 refused to comment on Mr Duncan Smith's article.
But Prime Minister David Cameron has previously called for a respectful debate.
In other developments ahead of the 23 June In-Out referendum on the UK's EU membership:
The government's official position is in support of staying in a reformed EU under the "special status" Mr Cameron says he secured for the UK in his EU renegotiation.The government's official position is in support of staying in a reformed EU under the "special status" Mr Cameron says he secured for the UK in his EU renegotiation.
Mr Cameron and other leading figures in the Remain campaign have warned that to quit the EU would be a "leap in the dark" and endanger Britain's economy and national security.Mr Cameron and other leading figures in the Remain campaign have warned that to quit the EU would be a "leap in the dark" and endanger Britain's economy and national security.
'Spin and smears''Spin and smears'
But in the Mail, Mr Duncan Smith, a former leader of the Conservative Party, said the In camp was basing its campaign on "spin, smears and threats" to try to "bully" Britons into voting to stay.But in the Mail, Mr Duncan Smith, a former leader of the Conservative Party, said the In camp was basing its campaign on "spin, smears and threats" to try to "bully" Britons into voting to stay.
"The acrimonious manner in which all this has been conducted is troubling, and will I fear have consequences long beyond 23 June," he said."The acrimonious manner in which all this has been conducted is troubling, and will I fear have consequences long beyond 23 June," he said.
"After all, such desperate and unsubstantiated claims are now being made that they begin to damage the very integrity of those who make them in the eyes of the public.""After all, such desperate and unsubstantiated claims are now being made that they begin to damage the very integrity of those who make them in the eyes of the public."
BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth says this is the strongest intervention yet from Mr Duncan Smith and will be seen as implicit criticism of the prime minister and his allies.BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth says this is the strongest intervention yet from Mr Duncan Smith and will be seen as implicit criticism of the prime minister and his allies.
Mr Duncan Smith said a "series of highly questionable dossiers" had been produced by the Remain campaign, "threatening almost biblical consequences if we dare to consider a future outside the EU".Mr Duncan Smith said a "series of highly questionable dossiers" had been produced by the Remain campaign, "threatening almost biblical consequences if we dare to consider a future outside the EU".
He said the campaign had shifted the debate away from the merits of Mr Cameron's deal struck in Brussels to "scaremongering" about whether the UK can stand alone.He said the campaign had shifted the debate away from the merits of Mr Cameron's deal struck in Brussels to "scaremongering" about whether the UK can stand alone.
"The question being asked seems to be whether we could cope on our own at all. Why they would seek to present our country, and themselves, as so weak is beyond me.""The question being asked seems to be whether we could cope on our own at all. Why they would seek to present our country, and themselves, as so weak is beyond me."
'Mature interrogation''Mature interrogation'
It was "vital", he said, that the debate was conducted in "a respectful manner, where we maturely interrogate the issues".It was "vital", he said, that the debate was conducted in "a respectful manner, where we maturely interrogate the issues".
Mr Fox warned against campaigners on either side "ramping up" their arguments. He told BBC Radio 4's Today that the ability of the party to pull together after the vote was "largely dependent on how well we treat each other" in the coming months.
Cabinet ministers have been allowed to campaign on either side of the debate and five of them, including Mr Duncan Smith, are pushing for an EU exit.Cabinet ministers have been allowed to campaign on either side of the debate and five of them, including Mr Duncan Smith, are pushing for an EU exit.
About half of the party's MPs - most notably London mayor Boris Johnson - are also supporting a vote to leave.About half of the party's MPs - most notably London mayor Boris Johnson - are also supporting a vote to leave.
Mr Duncan Smith's warning comes a day after Mr Cameron held a summit with French President Francois Hollande in northern France. Mr Duncan Smith's warning comes a day after Mr Cameron held a summit with French President Francois Hollande in northern France. Mr Hollande said he wanted the UK to stay in the EU - and warned there would be "consequences" for immigration and the economy if it left.
Mr Hollande said he wanted the UK to stay in the EU - and warned there would be "consequences" for immigration and the economy if it left. French economy minister Emmanuel Macron earlier suggested his country could end UK border controls in Calais, dismissed as "scaremongering" by Leave campaigners.
French economy minister Emmanuel Macron earlier suggested his country could end UK border controls in Calais.
'Better off.. stronger'
Asked whether he would do this, Mr Hollande said: "I don't want to scare you, I just want to say the truth - there will be consequences."
Mr Cameron, who said the UK would be "better off... stronger" inside a "reformed" EU, announced £17m to help the French authorities deal with migrants attempting to get into the UK from Calais and Dunkirk.Mr Cameron, who said the UK would be "better off... stronger" inside a "reformed" EU, announced £17m to help the French authorities deal with migrants attempting to get into the UK from Calais and Dunkirk.
Leave campaigners have dismissed the Calais claims as "scaremongering". As referendum skirmishing continues, the application process has opened for groups to seek nomination to be selected as lead campaigners for the Leave and Remain sides.
Britain Stronger in Europe is expected to be chosen as the principal campaigner on the In side but rival groups Vote Leave and Leave.EU/Grassroots Out are vying to get the nod on the Out side following months of wrangling.
The Electoral Commission, which will make the decision, has said the designation period will remain open until 31 March, and the decision will be announced on 14 April.