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EU referendum: Starting gun fired as official campaign begins EU referendum: Starting gun fired as official campaign begins
(about 1 hour later)
The EU referendum campaign officially begins on Friday, ending in a vote on 23 June to decide whether the UK stays in or leaves the 28-member bloc. The starting gun has been fired on Britain's EU referendum campaign with 10 weeks to go before polling day.
Britain Stronger in Europe and Vote Leave are expected to focus on core messages in speeches and rallies. The Leave and Remain campaigns are out in force at events around the UK as they set out their core message to voters in 23 June's vote.
Former chancellor Alistair Darling will point to "credible warnings of economic disaster", should the UK leave the EU. Former chancellor Alistair Darling is to warn of economic "disaster" if Britain leaves the 28 nation bloc.
But Leave campaigners will say the UK's contributions to the EU should go towards the NHS instead. Vote Leave is calling on the money spent on EU membership to be pumped into the NHS instead.
During the 10-week referendum campaign period, which runs until polling day, campaigners are subject to spending limits of between £700,000 and £7m. The campaigns have been making their case for months - but the gloves are off now that the official campaign period is under way.
The polls suggest the referendum will be too close to call, although both sides know that much can change before the country makes its historic decision to leave or remain in the EU.
A survey commissioned by ITV's Good Morning Britain suggested 40% of those asked wanted to stay in the EU while 39% wanted to leave.
EU referendum: In depthEU referendum: In depth
The UK's EU vote: All you need to knowThe UK's EU vote: All you need to know
EU for beginners: A guideEU for beginners: A guide
UK and the EU: Better off out or in?UK and the EU: Better off out or in?
A-Z guide to EU-speakA-Z guide to EU-speak
Who's who: The Vote Leave teamWho's who: The Vote Leave team
Who's who: The Remain campaignWho's who: The Remain campaign
Vote Leave campaigners will kick off the start of the official, regulated campaign period with a series of events and rallies in cities across England - including one headed by Labour MP Gisela Stuart and another by Conservative London Mayor Boris Johnson. Vote Leave campaigners are holding events and rallies in cities across England - including one headed by Labour MP Gisela Stuart and another by Conservative London Mayor Boris Johnson.
Other prominent Conservatives, including cabinet ministers Chris Grayling and Michael Gove, will appear at further Vote Leave events.Other prominent Conservatives, including cabinet ministers Chris Grayling and Michael Gove, will appear at further Vote Leave events.
And UKIP leader Nigel Farage plans to deliver a letter to Downing Street in protest at the government's £9m leaflet campaign promoting EU membership.And UKIP leader Nigel Farage plans to deliver a letter to Downing Street in protest at the government's £9m leaflet campaign promoting EU membership.
'Long-term interests''Long-term interests'
Ms Stuart, chair of Vote Leave, told BBC Breakfast that while her party leader Jeremy Corbyn wants to "change the EU from within", she had tried that and realised it was "simply incapable of change". Ms Stuart, co-chair of Vote Leave, told BBC Breakfast that while her party leader Jeremy Corbyn wants to "change the EU from within", she had tried that and realised it was "simply incapable of change".
She said the Vote Leave campaign would "show step by step" why leaving the EU was "the right thing to do in the long-term interests of the country".She said the Vote Leave campaign would "show step by step" why leaving the EU was "the right thing to do in the long-term interests of the country".
Ms Stuart added that she believed Britain outside the EU would "probably be freer" to trade with other nations and would have a "greater say" at decision-making bodies such as the World Trade Organisation.Ms Stuart added that she believed Britain outside the EU would "probably be freer" to trade with other nations and would have a "greater say" at decision-making bodies such as the World Trade Organisation.
She described the forthcoming referendum as a once-in-a-generation decision that would "not fall along party political lines".She described the forthcoming referendum as a once-in-a-generation decision that would "not fall along party political lines".
Mr Darling, who was Labour chancellor from 2007 to 2010, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that leaving the EU would be a "leap in the dark". But Lord Darling, who was Labour chancellor from 2007 to 2010, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that leaving the EU would be a "leap in the dark".
He said: "There is overwhelming economic evidence that we are better off - we are stronger, more secure - being part of the European Union and the largest market in the world."He said: "There is overwhelming economic evidence that we are better off - we are stronger, more secure - being part of the European Union and the largest market in the world."
Mr Darling is to warn in a speech later that "dark clouds are gathering on our horizon" and a vote to leave the EU is "simply not a risk worth taking". In a speech later, Lord Darling - who led the successful Better Together campaign in the Scottish independence referendum - is to warn that "dark clouds are gathering on our horizon" and a vote to leave the EU is "simply not a risk worth taking".
He will cite his experience during the 2008 financial crash to warn that uncertainty is damaging economic confidence.He will cite his experience during the 2008 financial crash to warn that uncertainty is damaging economic confidence.
"When the IMF single us out as facing what will be a self-inflicted wound, we can't ignore it. We can't afford to take a decision where no-one on the other side has any clear idea of where we would end up if we left," he will say."When the IMF single us out as facing what will be a self-inflicted wound, we can't ignore it. We can't afford to take a decision where no-one on the other side has any clear idea of where we would end up if we left," he will say.
Analysis by BBC political correspondent Ben Wright 'Surrender of power'
It's a massive, once-in-a-generation choice. And it's getting close.
In 10 weeks' time voters will decide whether the UK should remain in the European Union or leave. Early polls suggest the vote could be very close.
Party divisions have partially dissolved as the campaigns have mobilised and today they'll be on the stump.
Vote Leave's big hitters will fan out across the country urging voters to take control. It will unveil a poster saying the UK's EU contributions should go towards the NHS.
But former Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling will accuse Vote Leave of "playing with fire" on the economy - the Remain campaign's central line of attack.
Mr Darling is expected to say the UK's economic recovery relied on exports and global investors, and warn: "It would be a colossal surrender of power to walk away from our largest trading partner, increase uncertainty, erect trade barriers and diminish our influence."Mr Darling is expected to say the UK's economic recovery relied on exports and global investors, and warn: "It would be a colossal surrender of power to walk away from our largest trading partner, increase uncertainty, erect trade barriers and diminish our influence."
He will accuse exit campaigners of offering a "fantasy future where we keep all the benefits of being in Europe without being part of the single market". The BBC's political correspondent Ben Wright said traditional party divisions were partially dissolving as campaigning - which has unofficially been going for months already - moved up a gear.
On Thursday, Conservative PM David Cameron joined forces with former Labour and Lib Dem leaders Lord Kinnock and Lord Ashdown to man the phones at the Stronger In campaign headquarters, while Mr Corbyn delivered a speech warning of a "bonfire" of workers' rights if Britain leaves the EU. On Thursday, Conservative PM David Cameron joined forces with former Labour and Lib Dem leaders Lord Kinnock and Lord Ashdown to man the phones at the Stronger In campaign headquarters.
But Vote Leave accused the government of failing to highlight its own report into Britain's obligations to the EU, claiming it was because ministers were too embarrassed by the contents. But Vote Leave accused the government of "cynically" failing to highlight its own report into Britain's obligations to the EU, claiming it was because ministers were too embarrassed by the contents.
What are the rules? "It makes clear that EU law and EU judges trump British law," Vote Leave's chief executive, Matthew Elliott said. "The Charter of Fundamental Rights has been used by the EU to undermine our security and put up every day costs like insurance bills.
The official campaigns - Stronger In and Vote Leave - will be allowed to spend up to £7m
They will also receive £600,000 in public funds
In addition, the two groups will get a free mailshot and a guaranteed national TV broadcast
Other registered campaign groups will have a spending limit of up to £700,000
There are also specific rules on working together with other campaigners
Vote Leave's chief executive, Matthew Elliott said: "It's shocking that the government has cynically buried its own report because it admits how much control we've handed to the EU.
"It makes clear that EU law and EU judges trump British law. The Charter of Fundamental Rights has been used by the EU to undermine our security and put up every day costs like insurance bills.
"On top of leaving EU judges in control of our borders, our economy and even those who can vote in our democracy, we hand Brussels £350m every week.""On top of leaving EU judges in control of our borders, our economy and even those who can vote in our democracy, we hand Brussels £350m every week."
The Electoral Commission said Friday "marks one of the most important dates" in the referendum timetable for campaigners. During the 10-week referendum campaign period, which runs until polling day, campaigners are subject to spending limits of between £700,000 and £7m.
Bob Posner, director of party and election finance, said: "It's crucial that anyone who is, or is considering, campaigning is both aware of what the rules are and that they follow them.
"We've already been working with those who are campaigning for 'Remain' or 'Leave' outcomes, to ensure that this is the case and will continue to do so."