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Robert Peston accuses Vote Leave of 'mad slur' against him ITV's Robert Peston accuses Vote Leave of 'mad slur' against him
(35 minutes later)
Robert Peston, the ITV political editor, has accused the official campaign to leave the EU of issuing a “mad slur” against him, after it threatened legal action to stop a live television event featuring David Cameron and Nigel Farage. Robert Peston, the ITV political editor, has accused the official campaign to leave the EU of issuing a “mad slur” against him, as it threatened legal action to stop a live television event featuring David Cameron and Nigel Farage.
ITV invited the Ukip leader to take part because they believed the prime minister would not agree to appear in the same programme as his Conservative colleagues Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, who are the leading figures for Vote Leave. ITV invited the Ukip leader to take part because it believed the prime minister would not agree to appear in the same programme as his Conservative colleagues Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, who are the leading figures for Vote Leave.
The Guardian can also reveal that Cameron and the chancellor, George Osborne, are refusing to appear in the BBC’s headline pre-election programme at Wembley Arena to avoid turning the referendum into a “blue on blue” battle.The Guardian can also reveal that Cameron and the chancellor, George Osborne, are refusing to appear in the BBC’s headline pre-election programme at Wembley Arena to avoid turning the referendum into a “blue on blue” battle.
A Vote Leave source accused ITV of stitching up the debate, claiming the broadcaster had now “effectively joined the official in campaign”, and warning that it would face consequences when there was a new team in Downing Street.A Vote Leave source accused ITV of stitching up the debate, claiming the broadcaster had now “effectively joined the official in campaign”, and warning that it would face consequences when there was a new team in Downing Street.
“ITV is led by people like Robert Peston who campaigned for Britain to join the euro,” said the source, who wanted the channel to put up one of its leading figures, such as Johnson or Gove, rather than the Ukip leader. “ITV is led by people like Robert Peston who campaigned for Britain to join the euro,” said the source, who wanted the channel to put up one of Vote Leave’s leading figures, such as Johnson or Gove, rather than the Ukip leader.
An official statement from the group added: “Since the campaign began, ITV has also given twice as much airtime to the in campaign than to the Leave campaign.” An official statement from the group added: “Since the campaign began, ITV has also given twice as much airtime to the in campaign than to the leave campaign.”
An ITV source hit back. “We are confident that our news coverage has been balanced throughout the campaign.” He pointed out that Johnson had been given a three-and-a-half-minute slot on the News at 10 on Wednesday night, while there was an Iain Duncan Smith interview the night before. An ITV source hit back. “We are confident that our news coverage has been balanced throughout the campaign.” He pointed out that Johnson had been given a three-and-a-half-minute slot on the News at Ten on Wednesday night, while there was an Iain Duncan Smith interview the night before.
The broadcaster is likely to have been persuaded to invite Farage rather than Gove or Johnson because it knew that was the only way the prime minister would appear.The broadcaster is likely to have been persuaded to invite Farage rather than Gove or Johnson because it knew that was the only way the prime minister would appear.
The extraordinary row came after ITV and Sky News unveiled their plans for television programmes in the run-up to the referendum. Sky will host shows with Cameron and Gove – but on separate days.The extraordinary row came after ITV and Sky News unveiled their plans for television programmes in the run-up to the referendum. Sky will host shows with Cameron and Gove – but on separate days.
Cameron is prepared to take part in programmes but, in a re-run of the 2015 election, will not do anything head to head. A senior Conservative source said: “This argument is not about a Tory civil war, it is about the position you take on the Europe, and the public deserve to hear that.” He admitted that Cameron did not want the arguments to be seen through an internal party lens. Cameron is prepared to take part in programmes but, as in the 2015 election campaign, is reluctant to do anything head to head. A senior Conservative source said: “This argument is not about a Tory civil war, it is about the position you take on Europe, and the public deserve to hear that.” He admitted that Cameron did not want the arguments to be seen through an internal party lens.
Farage, who is linked to Grassroots Out, a rival out campaign that did not receive the official designation, said he was “deeply disappointed” by the reaction of Vote Leave. Farage, who is linked to Grassroots Out, a rival leave campaign that did not receive the official designation, said he was “deeply disappointed” by the reaction of Vote Leave.
A senior source linked to the group sent out a statement on Wednesday night that said: “ITV has lied to us in private while secretly stitching up a deal with Cameron to stop Boris Johnson or Michael Gove debating the issues properly.” He said Peston had supported Britain joining the euro. A senior source linked to Vote Leave sent out a statement on Wednesday night that said: “ITV has lied to us in private while secretly stitching up a deal with Cameron to stop Boris Johnson or Michael Gove debating the issues properly.” He said Peston had campaigned for Britain to join the euro.
“ITV has effectively joined the official in campaign and there will be consequences for its future – the people in No 10 won’t be there for long.”“ITV has effectively joined the official in campaign and there will be consequences for its future – the people in No 10 won’t be there for long.”
Peston rejected the allegations on Twitter, branding it a “mad slur” and “completely idiotic”. Peston rejected the allegations on Twitter, branding them a “mad slur”.
Apart from mad slur on me and ITV, did Gove and Boris approve threat at end that @David_Cameron will be out soon? pic.twitter.com/T3EtZA0eqPApart from mad slur on me and ITV, did Gove and Boris approve threat at end that @David_Cameron will be out soon? pic.twitter.com/T3EtZA0eqP
“So, & I can hardly believe I need to say this, I never campaigned for the euro & ITV is wholly impartial in EU referendum debate,” he said. He added:
So, & I can hardly believe I need to say this, I never campaigned for the euro & ITV is wholly impartial in EU referendum debateSo, & I can hardly believe I need to say this, I never campaigned for the euro & ITV is wholly impartial in EU referendum debate
Johnson was asked about the Vote Leave source’s statement by Michael Crick, Channel 4 News’s political correspondent, as he visited a steel site in Dorset on Thursday. Johnson claimed he had not read it, adding: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Michael Crick, Channel 4 News’s political correspondent, asked Johnson about the Vote Leave source’s statement as he visited a steel site in Dorset on Thursday. Johnson claimed he had not read it, adding: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
On Thursday morning, Vote Leave released an official statement with a slightly more tempered tone but it made clear the campaign was still considering legal action to stop the debate.On Thursday morning, Vote Leave released an official statement with a slightly more tempered tone but it made clear the campaign was still considering legal action to stop the debate.
A spokesman said: “The government has set all the rules for the referendum to give itself every possible advantage. It has also demanded of the broadcasters that the prime minister should not have to debate representatives from the official Leave campaign … A spokesman said: “The government has set all the rules for the referendum to give itself every possible advantage. It has also demanded of the broadcasters that the prime minister should not have to debate representatives from the official leave campaign.
“ITV has accepted the prime minister’s demands without even discussing it with the official campaign and has allowed the prime minister to dictate his own opponent. Since the campaign began, ITV has also given twice as much airtime to the in campaign than to the Leave campaign.” “ITV has accepted the prime minister’s demands without even discussing it with the official campaign and has allowed the prime minister to dictate his own opponent. Since the campaign began, ITV has also given twice as much airtime to the in campaign than to the leave campaign.”
An ITV spokeswoman said: “ITV has not lied to anyone, nor has there been any kind of ‘stitch-up’.An ITV spokeswoman said: “ITV has not lied to anyone, nor has there been any kind of ‘stitch-up’.
“It was our editorial decision as to who would take part in the 7 June programme; the PM called the referendum, and the country wants to hear from him, and Nigel Farage has been a leading proponent of an exit from the EU for more than 20 years and his party received 3.8m votes at the election. We invited them both and they accepted.”“It was our editorial decision as to who would take part in the 7 June programme; the PM called the referendum, and the country wants to hear from him, and Nigel Farage has been a leading proponent of an exit from the EU for more than 20 years and his party received 3.8m votes at the election. We invited them both and they accepted.”
The broadcaster is allowing Vote Leave to choose all three of the out campaigners who will appear in another debate programme two days after Cameron appears.The broadcaster is allowing Vote Leave to choose all three of the out campaigners who will appear in another debate programme two days after Cameron appears.
Although it will be called Cameron and Farage Live, the two men will appear in separate half-hour segments divided by an ad break.Although it will be called Cameron and Farage Live, the two men will appear in separate half-hour segments divided by an ad break.
The ITV programmes will be preceded during the previous week by his participation in an hour-long Sky News programme in which he will face questions from the channel’s political editor, Faisal Islam, and a studio audience.The ITV programmes will be preceded during the previous week by his participation in an hour-long Sky News programme in which he will face questions from the channel’s political editor, Faisal Islam, and a studio audience.
A later Sky programme will see questions posed to Gove, the justice secretary.A later Sky programme will see questions posed to Gove, the justice secretary.
The BBC announced in February that it would air three major debates in the run-up to the referendum, including a major live event at Wembley Arena on 21 June. The BBC announced in February that it would air three major debates in the run-up to the referendum, including the major live event at Wembley Arena on 21 June.
The seven EU referendum ‘debates’ in fullThe seven EU referendum ‘debates’ in full
There are at least seven EU referendum “debate” programmes planned by the major broadcasters. Here is the full list. There are at least seven EU referendum “debate” programmes planned by the major broadcasters. Here is the full list:
Thursday 19 May – A BBC programme aimed at young voters, broadcast from Glasgow and hosted by Victoria Derbyshire. Further details are not available yet.Thursday 19 May – A BBC programme aimed at young voters, broadcast from Glasgow and hosted by Victoria Derbyshire. Further details are not available yet.
Thursday 2 June – Sky’s first referendum progamme, with David Cameron for Remain being interviewed in front of a live audience for an hour. Thursday 2 June – Sky’s first referendum programme, with David Cameron for remain being interviewed in front of a live audience for an hour.
Friday 3 June – Sky’s second programme, with Michael Gove for Leave being interviewed in front of a live audience for an hour. Friday 3 June – Sky’s second programme, with Michael Gove for leave being interviewed in front of a live audience for an hour.
Tuesday 7 June - ITV’s Cameron/Farage “debate”, although David Cameron and Nigel Farage will be interviewed separately by Julie Etchingham in front of a studio audience during the hour-long programme.Tuesday 7 June - ITV’s Cameron/Farage “debate”, although David Cameron and Nigel Farage will be interviewed separately by Julie Etchingham in front of a studio audience during the hour-long programme.
Thursday 9 June – ITV’s second event. This will be a proper two-hour debate, again chaired by Etchingham, with figures from Leave and Remain. The list of participants has not been finalised, but Boris Johnson has been invited. Thursday 9 June – ITV’s second event. This will be a proper two-hour debate, chaired by Etchingham, with figures from leave and remain. The list of participants has not been finalised, but Boris Johnson has been invited.
Wednesday 15 June - A BBC Question Time event, moderated by David Dimbleby, featuring a senior figure from Leave and Remain. It is expected that they will be questioned separately, as happened during the 2015 election leaders special. Wednesday 15 June - A BBC Question Time event, moderated by David Dimbleby, featuring a senior figure from leave and remain. It is expected that they will be questioned separately, as happened during the 2015 election leaders special.
Tuesday 21 June - The final BBC event, two days before the referendum, filmed in front of a huge audience at the SSE Arena in Wembley. David Dimbleby, Mishal Husain and Emily Maitlis will present. The plan is for the debate to feature three figures from each side, but No 10 is particularly unhappy about this proposal, because they don’t want Tories debating Tories, and they claim the large audience could make it rowdy. Tuesday 21 June - The final BBC event, two days before the referendum, filmed in front of a huge audience at the SSE Arena in Wembley. David Dimbleby, Mishal Husain and Emily Maitlis will present. The plan is for the debate to feature three figures from each side, but No 10 is particularly unhappy about this proposal, because it does not want Tories debating Tories, and claims the large audience could make it rowdy.