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EU referendum: Row over government spending £9m on leaflets to every home EU referendum: PM 'makes no apology' for £9m EU leaflets
(35 minutes later)
A row has erupted over a £9m campaign to promote Britain's EU membership, with Leave campaigners accusing ministers of misusing public funds. David Cameron has defended a government leaflet promoting EU membership, saying "we are not neutral" in the referendum.
Cabinet minister Michael Fallon said the leaflets, to be sent to every UK home, were a "moderate" response to a public demand for information. The prime minister said the government's view was that the UK was "better off" staying in.
But Leave campaigners are angry about what they see as biased propaganda. His comments come after a row over £9m of taxpayers' money being spent on the leaflets, which will be sent to 27 million homes in the UK.
Tory MP Liam Fox is to launch an online petition to stop the leaflets being sent to 27 million homes. Leave campaigners are angry about what they see as biased propaganda, accusing ministers of misusing public funds.
Former Conservative minister Liam Fox is to launch an online petition to stop the leaflets being distributed.
A separate petition launched by the Get Britain Out group has already gained more than 30,000 signatures - it needs 100,000 to be considered for a debate in Parliament.A separate petition launched by the Get Britain Out group has already gained more than 30,000 signatures - it needs 100,000 to be considered for a debate in Parliament.
'No apology'
In a speech to students and young people in Exeter, Mr Cameron said: "I make no apology for the fact that we are sending to every household in this country this leaflet which sets out what the government's view is and why we come to that view.
"We're not neutral in this. We think it would be a bad decision to leave," - for the economy, jobs, investment, family finances and universities.
Eurosceptic MPs have long feared that ministers would try to sway the outcome of Britain's referendum on EU membership, on 23 June, by using the full weight of the civil service machine to push the case for staying in.Eurosceptic MPs have long feared that ministers would try to sway the outcome of Britain's referendum on EU membership, on 23 June, by using the full weight of the civil service machine to push the case for staying in.
They had managed to get ministers to agree to limiting government propaganda in the weeks running up to the polling day.They had managed to get ministers to agree to limiting government propaganda in the weeks running up to the polling day.
But the leaflets, bearing the official HM government stamp but not the face of David Cameron or any other ministers, are due to start landing on doormats in England next week, with the rest of the UK to follow.But the leaflets, bearing the official HM government stamp but not the face of David Cameron or any other ministers, are due to start landing on doormats in England next week, with the rest of the UK to follow.
The leaflet claims that a vote to leave the EU would cause an economic shock that "would risk higher prices of some household goods and damage living standards".The leaflet claims that a vote to leave the EU would cause an economic shock that "would risk higher prices of some household goods and damage living standards".
It further claims that the only way to "protect jobs, provide security, and strengthen the UK's economy" is by staying in the EU, arguing that leaving would create risk and uncertainty.It further claims that the only way to "protect jobs, provide security, and strengthen the UK's economy" is by staying in the EU, arguing that leaving would create risk and uncertainty.
Labour MP Gisela Stuart, who chairs pro-exit campaign group Vote Leave, said: "This is not the facts, it is a misleading government propaganda campaign paid for by hard-working taxpayers who would rather see their money spent on their priorities."Labour MP Gisela Stuart, who chairs pro-exit campaign group Vote Leave, said: "This is not the facts, it is a misleading government propaganda campaign paid for by hard-working taxpayers who would rather see their money spent on their priorities."
She said the public wanted "an honest debate" not "an attempt by the prime minister to buy the referendum result" with taxpayers' money.She said the public wanted "an honest debate" not "an attempt by the prime minister to buy the referendum result" with taxpayers' money.
London Mayor Boris Johnson - a prominent figure in the exit campaign - claimed it showed the government was "losing the argument" and did not want "a fair fight".London Mayor Boris Johnson - a prominent figure in the exit campaign - claimed it showed the government was "losing the argument" and did not want "a fair fight".
But Defence Secretary Mr Fallon defended the government over the leaflet, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The government is not neutral in this particular battle. The government takes the view that we would be better off, safer and stronger inside a reformed Europe." Defending the leaflet, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "We're entitled as the democratically elected government to set out our view, as government have done in every referendum we've had going all the away back to the original Europe referendum back in 1975."
And he said there was a precedent for such action: "We're entitled as the democratically elected government to set out our view, as government have done in every referendum we've had going all the away back to the original Europe referendum back in 1975."
He said 80% of the British public wanted more information about the referendum and the government was "giving the facts and the government's judgement to go with these facts".He said 80% of the British public wanted more information about the referendum and the government was "giving the facts and the government's judgement to go with these facts".
"It is rather restrained and moderate, it does not make extravagant claims about the case for staying in," he added."It is rather restrained and moderate, it does not make extravagant claims about the case for staying in," he added.
Former minister Liam Fox says he will launch a petition to secure a debate in Parliament "so we can make known our outrage" at the government's behaviour. He said he would be returning his leaflet to Downing Street and urged others to do the same.Former minister Liam Fox says he will launch a petition to secure a debate in Parliament "so we can make known our outrage" at the government's behaviour. He said he would be returning his leaflet to Downing Street and urged others to do the same.
Royal Mail will start delivering the leaflets - entitled Why the Government Believes That Voting to Remain in the EU is the Best Decision for the UK - to households in England next week and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland after the 5 May devolved elections.Royal Mail will start delivering the leaflets - entitled Why the Government Believes That Voting to Remain in the EU is the Best Decision for the UK - to households in England next week and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland after the 5 May devolved elections.
A digital version is being advertised on social media and on a new website. The government says the mail drop will cost £9.3m, or about 34p per household.A digital version is being advertised on social media and on a new website. The government says the mail drop will cost £9.3m, or about 34p per household.
Households have also been receiving leaflets from EU exit campaigners which also purport to set out the facts of the referendum debate, although these are paid for by the campaigns themselves rather than taxpayers' money.Households have also been receiving leaflets from EU exit campaigners which also purport to set out the facts of the referendum debate, although these are paid for by the campaigns themselves rather than taxpayers' money.
Although the internet and social media are tools widely used by both sides of the referendum to spread their message, traditional methods - such as delivering leaflets to homes - still play a key role in the campaigns.Although the internet and social media are tools widely used by both sides of the referendum to spread their message, traditional methods - such as delivering leaflets to homes - still play a key role in the campaigns.