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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 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.
Ex-chancellor Alistair Darling accused Leave campaigners of "playing with fire" and peddling a "fantasy future".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. In the main developments so far:
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.
Other prominent Conservatives, including cabinet ministers Chris Grayling and Michael Gove, will appear at further Vote Leave events.
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'
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".
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".
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".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".
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 in London, the Labour peer - 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".
The economic benefits of EU membership could not be ignored, he said.The economic benefits of EU membership could not be ignored, he said.
"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 would be a colossal surrender of power to walk away from our largest trading partner, increase uncertainty, erect trade barriers and diminish our influence."
'Project Fantasy'
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".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".
"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.""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."
'Project Fantasy'
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."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."
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. Vote Leave campaigners are holding events and rallies in cities across England - including one headed by Labour MP Gisela Stuart and others featuring prominent Conservatives including Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Cabinet ministers Chris Grayling and Michael Gove.
"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. Reality Check: Would Brexit mean extra £350m a week for NHS?
"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." We've said it before and we'll say it again - the UK does not send £350m a week to Brussels - the rebate is deducted before the money is sent, which takes the contribution down to £276m a 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". That figure includes £88m a week spent in the UK on things like regional aid and support for farmers. The government could decide after a Brexit that it should take that money away from farmers and give it instead to the NHS, but it might be an unpopular decision in rural areas.
During the 10-week referendum campaign period, which runs until polling day, campaigners are subject to spending limits of between £700,000 and £7m. Read more
Ms Stuart, co-chair of Vote Leave, said the UK's annual contribution to the EU budget could be better used to support public services and reduce NHS waiting times.
"At the moment £350m a week goes to Brussels," she said. "I think we ought to decide ourselves how we spend that money and I would suggest we spend it on the NHS.
"The NHS is under tremendous pressure, people have to wait longer whether it is for treatment or for A&E and I think £350m would be better spent on the NHS."
Britain Stronger in Europe has disputed the figures, saying the UK gets a large chunk of its subscription back via its rebate which is already spent in a number of areas.
'Pray for guidance'
Delivering a letter to Downing Street protesting at the government's pro-EU £9m leaflet campaign, Nigel Farage urged David Cameron to debate him to "see if your claims will stand up to public scrutiny".
Mr Farage, who debated former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg during the 2014 European elections, said the government's arguments were "jammed full of lies and inaccuracies".
"Name your place and time and let's have a live, televised, head-to-head debate where we can debate one of the greatest political questions of our time," he said.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Vincent Nichols - the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales - urged parishioners to "pray for guidance" and look beyond narrow economic concerns.
However he said he believed if the UK left the EU it would face "more complex problems than we would if we were playing an active part with Europe".
"In the EU, trade is harnessed to peace. An essential feature of the EU is the peace that has been sustained in Europe since the end of the second world war."