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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| David Cameron and Boris Johnson take EU referendum fight to Countryfile | David Cameron and Boris Johnson take EU referendum fight to Countryfile |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| David Cameron and Boris Johnson are set to take their battle over Europe out of the newsroom trenches and into the green and pleasant fields of Countryfile over the coming weeks. | David Cameron and Boris Johnson are set to take their battle over Europe out of the newsroom trenches and into the green and pleasant fields of Countryfile over the coming weeks. |
| The prime minister and London mayor are to appear on the Sunday night show in the coming weeks in an effort to convince its 8 million or so viewers of the case for or against remaining in the EU. | The prime minister and London mayor are to appear on the Sunday night show in the coming weeks in an effort to convince its 8 million or so viewers of the case for or against remaining in the EU. |
| Related: Countryfile Shakespeare special caps show's unexpected success | Related: Countryfile Shakespeare special caps show's unexpected success |
| They are both to “appear in rural settings” with regular presenter Tom Heap, with David Cameron appearing first and Boris Johnson appearing in a subsequent episode ahead of the June 23 referendum. | |
| A BBC spokesperson said: “Both the Prime Minister and Boris Johnson will be appearing on Countryfile in the coming weeks to discuss issues surrounding the impact of the EU referendum on rural Britain. Countryfile tackles hard news issues affecting the countryside, considering all sides of the story.” | A BBC spokesperson said: “Both the Prime Minister and Boris Johnson will be appearing on Countryfile in the coming weeks to discuss issues surrounding the impact of the EU referendum on rural Britain. Countryfile tackles hard news issues affecting the countryside, considering all sides of the story.” |
| Rural voters are seen as a core battleground. EU membership awards farmers a total of between £2.5bn to £3bn a year, with individual grants decided according to the area of land they farm and efforts they make to improve the environment. | Rural voters are seen as a core battleground. EU membership awards farmers a total of between £2.5bn to £3bn a year, with individual grants decided according to the area of land they farm and efforts they make to improve the environment. |
| Liz Truss, the secretary of state for environment, farming and rural affairs, tried to convince the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) annual conference in February that farmers also benefit from access to the EU market, which accounts for more than half of all British food and farming exports, amounting to more than £11bn a year. | Liz Truss, the secretary of state for environment, farming and rural affairs, tried to convince the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) annual conference in February that farmers also benefit from access to the EU market, which accounts for more than half of all British food and farming exports, amounting to more than £11bn a year. |
| However, the same conference heard from farming minister, George Eustice, who backs the Leave campaign and who argued that farmers would be better off out of the EU. | However, the same conference heard from farming minister, George Eustice, who backs the Leave campaign and who argued that farmers would be better off out of the EU. |
| The farming community, which tends to vote Conservative, is largely split on the issue of EU membership, just like the party itself. | The farming community, which tends to vote Conservative, is largely split on the issue of EU membership, just like the party itself. |