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EU referendum: Starting gun fired as official campaign begins EU referendum: Starting gun fired as official campaign begins
(35 minutes later)
The starting gun has been fired on Britain's EU referendum campaign with 10 weeks to go before polling day.The starting gun has been fired on Britain's EU referendum campaign with 10 weeks to go before polling day.
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.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 is to warn of economic "disaster" if Britain leaves the 28 nation bloc. Ex-chancellor Alistair Darling accused Leave campaigners of "playing with fire" and peddling a "fantasy future".
Vote Leave is calling on the money spent on EU membership to be pumped into the NHS instead.Vote Leave is calling on the money spent on EU membership to be pumped into the NHS instead.
The campaigns have been making their case for months - but the gloves are off now that the official campaign period is under way.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.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.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 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.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 has challenged David Cameron to a head-to-head debate as he delivered 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, 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".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".
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". Lord Darling, who was Labour chancellor from 2007 to 2010, said a vote to leave the EU would be final and would signal the UK was "in retreat" and choosing "isolation rather than influence".
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." In a speech in London, Lord Darling - who led the successful Better Together campaign in the Scottish independence referendum - argued the referendum was "not about sovereignty" because the UK "is a sovereign nation and will remain so".
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". The economic benefits of EU membership could not be ignored, he said.
He will cite his experience during the 2008 financial crash to warn that uncertainty is damaging economic confidence. "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."
"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. 'Project Fantasy'
'Surrender of power' The Labour peer rejected claims that the Remain campaign was using the same tactics as Better Together did in 2014 - dubbed "Project Fear" by its opponents - saying he made "no apology" for exposing his opponents' "fear of the spotlight of legitimate scrutiny".
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." "It is not Project Fear. In truth, it is a reality check. The kind anyone would rightly take before making an enormous decision affecting their lives."
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. Out campaigners, he claimed, were offering a "fantasy future where we keep all of the benefits of Europe without being part of the single market. It is Project Fantasy."
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. 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.
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.
"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."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.
"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."
Meanwhile, Cardinal Vincent Nichols - the head of the Catholic Church in England Wales - said that if the UK left the EU we "would be facing more complex problems than we would if we were playing an active part with Europe".
During the 10-week referendum campaign period, which runs until polling day, campaigners are subject to spending limits of between £700,000 and £7m.During the 10-week referendum campaign period, which runs until polling day, campaigners are subject to spending limits of between £700,000 and £7m.