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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/may/31/eu-referendum-live-leave-johnson-gove-remain-business-poll
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| EU referendum live – Vote Leave backtracks on energy bills claim | EU referendum live – Vote Leave backtracks on energy bills claim |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.20pm BST | |
| 15:20 | |
| Farage says, if Remain win, UK might not get 2nd referendum until another country leaves EU | |
| I’m spending the day on the semi-organised chaos of the Ukip-led unofficial Brexit campaign battlebus, currently between Birmingham and Northampton. Before a stop for the inevitable pub lunch I had a chat with Nigel Farage about his thoughts on the campaign and the possible aftermath of the 23 June vote. | |
| Farage said he does not believe a vote for Remain will end the EU argument permanently, predicting that growing anti-EU feeling in places like Italy could see another nation leave, reigniting the debate in the UK. | |
| “The issue won’t go away,” he said. “I suspect that if Remain were to win narrowly then we’d wait for another country to get out first. And just look at the shift.” | |
| This would, however, take some time, Farage said: “If we lost, would there be a second referendum soon? There would be a chunk of the Conservative party that would be irreconcilable to the way the campaign had been fought. But is the British parliament going to give us another referendum? I don’t think so.” | |
| It would this take a vote to leave from another nation, he predicted: “I suspect somebody else would do it for us. But the arguments won’t go away because the EU is going to get worse.” | |
| In less policy-based news Farage revealed he is currently on his first-ever mid-campaign diet, prompted by a regime of hotel breakfasts, pub lunches and evening curries. In a telling vignette, an aide had earlier struggled to find a bottle of water. “There’s Rioja,” he said. “And beer. The water must be somewhere.” | |
| And Farage is even going to the open top deck of the bus for a cigarette when it is on the motorway. | |
| 3.08pm BST | |
| 15:08 | |
| Here’s a Guardian video explaining Brexit for non-Brits. | |
| 2.53pm BST | 2.53pm BST |
| 14:53 | 14:53 |
| Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, has written an article for Huffington Post encouraging young people to register to vote in the referendum. Here’s an excerpt. | Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, has written an article for Huffington Post encouraging young people to register to vote in the referendum. Here’s an excerpt. |
| Too many young people I meet feel insecure about their housing and working life - where low pay, insecure hours and temporary contracts have become the norm. | Too many young people I meet feel insecure about their housing and working life - where low pay, insecure hours and temporary contracts have become the norm. |
| There has never been a more important time to get political. In the words of the US politician Ralph Nader, “if you don’t turn on to politics, politics will turn on you” ... | There has never been a more important time to get political. In the words of the US politician Ralph Nader, “if you don’t turn on to politics, politics will turn on you” ... |
| The more people participate in our democracy, the better decisions we will make as a country. That’s why I have been so encouraged that young people are turning to Labour in increasing numbers. | The more people participate in our democracy, the better decisions we will make as a country. That’s why I have been so encouraged that young people are turning to Labour in increasing numbers. |
| Our party membership has doubled in the last year, and our youth membership (for those under 27) has more than trebled. Labour now has more young people as members than Ukip or the Liberal Democrats have members in total. | Our party membership has doubled in the last year, and our youth membership (for those under 27) has more than trebled. Labour now has more young people as members than Ukip or the Liberal Democrats have members in total. |
| I want young people to have their voice heard in the EU referendum on 23 June and in politics more generally. That’s why it’s so important that you register to vote, encourage your friends to register to vote by 7 June - and then use that vote. | I want young people to have their voice heard in the EU referendum on 23 June and in politics more generally. That’s why it’s so important that you register to vote, encourage your friends to register to vote by 7 June - and then use that vote. |
| 2.07pm BST | 2.07pm BST |
| 14:07 | 14:07 |
| Lunchtime summary | Lunchtime summary |
| More fantasy economics from Vote Leave: leaving EU would lead to smaller economy, a hole in public finances + higher taxes - like higher VAT | More fantasy economics from Vote Leave: leaving EU would lead to smaller economy, a hole in public finances + higher taxes - like higher VAT |
| Vote Leave has responded by arguing that Britain Stronger in Europe has “invented pledges that don’t exist” and that the alleged spending proposals it is highlighting are just illustrations of how money saved could be used. | Vote Leave has responded by arguing that Britain Stronger in Europe has “invented pledges that don’t exist” and that the alleged spending proposals it is highlighting are just illustrations of how money saved could be used. |
| I think what that shows is unfortunately some people in this debate prefer to play the man rather than the ball. Which tells you all, really. | I think what that shows is unfortunately some people in this debate prefer to play the man rather than the ball. Which tells you all, really. |
| Hear @sajidjavid of @StrongerIn says Iain Duncan Smith would "prefer to play the man rather than the ball" on #EUref pic.twitter.com/lr1VYZCiA8 | Hear @sajidjavid of @StrongerIn says Iain Duncan Smith would "prefer to play the man rather than the ball" on #EUref pic.twitter.com/lr1VYZCiA8 |
| BIS Secretary @sajidjavid asked if he's changed mind on #EUref "My view has always been clear on the economic issue" pic.twitter.com/uLD7Thd5BS | BIS Secretary @sajidjavid asked if he's changed mind on #EUref "My view has always been clear on the economic issue" pic.twitter.com/uLD7Thd5BS |
| Last week sources close to Javid insisted that he had never called for the UK to leave the EU, either in private or in public. | Last week sources close to Javid insisted that he had never called for the UK to leave the EU, either in private or in public. |
| Make no mistake: if we vote to leave the EU, small businesses will be hit hard. | Make no mistake: if we vote to leave the EU, small businesses will be hit hard. |
| You may have heard the myth that only massive multinationals want us to stay in the EU; that small businesses want out; that hardly any small firm exports to the EU, so leaving it won’t be such a big deal. | You may have heard the myth that only massive multinationals want us to stay in the EU; that small businesses want out; that hardly any small firm exports to the EU, so leaving it won’t be such a big deal. |
| That’s just plain wrong. It’s a misconception that could have dangerous consequences for millions of people who rely on small businesses for their jobs and for their livelihoods. | That’s just plain wrong. It’s a misconception that could have dangerous consequences for millions of people who rely on small businesses for their jobs and for their livelihoods. |
| This week’s ORB poll for the Daily Telegraph suggests that the Leave campaign increasing focus on lack of control over immigration and associated message discipline has helped their case. | This week’s ORB poll for the Daily Telegraph suggests that the Leave campaign increasing focus on lack of control over immigration and associated message discipline has helped their case. |
| The effectiveness of this improved clarity and emphasis is demonstrated by the four point jump (to 46%) in the Leave campaign’s vote share among Definite Voters in this poll. The Remain campaign’s vote share has correspondingly fallen by four points (to 51%). | The effectiveness of this improved clarity and emphasis is demonstrated by the four point jump (to 46%) in the Leave campaign’s vote share among Definite Voters in this poll. The Remain campaign’s vote share has correspondingly fallen by four points (to 51%). |
| As always caution must be exercised with one poll and it is possible that last week’s poll which showed strong gains for Remain may have been overly positive for the Remain camp but there have been significant lifts in most factors for the Leave case. | As always caution must be exercised with one poll and it is possible that last week’s poll which showed strong gains for Remain may have been overly positive for the Remain camp but there have been significant lifts in most factors for the Leave case. |
| I would want us to be very vigorous about any applicant for asylum from Albania. | I would want us to be very vigorous about any applicant for asylum from Albania. |
| Albania is a candidate country of the European Union and unless there is an extremely individual and particular reason for granting asylum for someone from Albania then I would want to have an asylum system that treated those people as economic migrants.” | Albania is a candidate country of the European Union and unless there is an extremely individual and particular reason for granting asylum for someone from Albania then I would want to have an asylum system that treated those people as economic migrants.” |
| As part of the Government’s approach, additional vessels to supplement Border Force’s three cutters in UK waters will take to the sea in the coming months - but full deployment will not take place until the end of 2017. | As part of the Government’s approach, additional vessels to supplement Border Force’s three cutters in UK waters will take to the sea in the coming months - but full deployment will not take place until the end of 2017. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.20pm BST | at 2.20pm BST |
| 1.22pm BST | 1.22pm BST |
| 13:22 | 13:22 |
| Grassroots Out has paid for full-page adverts in 21 regional newspapers today. One of the adverts featured is this one. | Grassroots Out has paid for full-page adverts in 21 regional newspapers today. One of the adverts featured is this one. |
| Peter Bone, the Conservative MP and a Grassroots Out co-founder, said: | Peter Bone, the Conservative MP and a Grassroots Out co-founder, said: |
| The Grassroots Out message is very straightforward. This is a battle between the people and the establishment. | The Grassroots Out message is very straightforward. This is a battle between the people and the establishment. |
| We may be David and they may be Goliath but we can win this referendum and voters must not be bullied by the likes of Obama. | We may be David and they may be Goliath but we can win this referendum and voters must not be bullied by the likes of Obama. |
| 12.53pm BST | 12.53pm BST |
| 12:53 | 12:53 |
| Farron suggests Gove should be sacked from cabinet after EU referendum | Farron suggests Gove should be sacked from cabinet after EU referendum |
| Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, is suggesting that Michael Gove should be sacked from the cabinet after the referendum, and that Boris Johnson should be kept out. In a statement referring to the Vote Leave spending proposals (see 9.01am) he says: | Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, is suggesting that Michael Gove should be sacked from the cabinet after the referendum, and that Boris Johnson should be kept out. In a statement referring to the Vote Leave spending proposals (see 9.01am) he says: |
| The right wing of the Conservative party have abandoned any pretence of economic competence in order to try and force a vote for leave. Boris, Gove and co can’t be trusted on the facts, and now they are proving that they can’t be trusted with the economy either. | The right wing of the Conservative party have abandoned any pretence of economic competence in order to try and force a vote for leave. Boris, Gove and co can’t be trusted on the facts, and now they are proving that they can’t be trusted with the economy either. |
| When the referendum is over, David Cameron will have to explain how he can justify keeping people willing to wilfully mislead people and threaten our economy in his cabinet. | When the referendum is over, David Cameron will have to explain how he can justify keeping people willing to wilfully mislead people and threaten our economy in his cabinet. |
| 12.44pm BST | 12.44pm BST |
| 12:44 | 12:44 |
| Peter Walker | Peter Walker |
| Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has spent a slightly chaotic morning spreading the leave message at Birmingham’s Bull Ring market, arriving at the edge of the stalls in a purple battlebus blaring out the Great Escape theme song before engaging with a crowd notably more receptive to his message than, the polls would indicate, is the case nationally. | Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has spent a slightly chaotic morning spreading the leave message at Birmingham’s Bull Ring market, arriving at the edge of the stalls in a purple battlebus blaring out the Great Escape theme song before engaging with a crowd notably more receptive to his message than, the polls would indicate, is the case nationally. |
| “I do like him,” said 71-year-old Pauline Jones, there to watch with her husband. “I don’t think we see enough of Nigel Farage. He’s been a bit pushed out by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove. It’s a shame.” | “I do like him,” said 71-year-old Pauline Jones, there to watch with her husband. “I don’t think we see enough of Nigel Farage. He’s been a bit pushed out by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove. It’s a shame.” |
| Leading a smallish but committed throng on a tour of the stalls, Farage at once criticised the Remain camp for its simplistic message while delivering arguments which, while generally more positive, were themselves also fairly broad in tone. | Leading a smallish but committed throng on a tour of the stalls, Farage at once criticised the Remain camp for its simplistic message while delivering arguments which, while generally more positive, were themselves also fairly broad in tone. |
| He spent almost ten minutes trying to persuade a pair of young women running a clothes accessories stall to vote for the first time and vote to leave, talking rapidly about industry, regulations and borders. | He spent almost ten minutes trying to persuade a pair of young women running a clothes accessories stall to vote for the first time and vote to leave, talking rapidly about industry, regulations and borders. |
| “I can’t guarantee that once we’re running our own affairs again, things will be perfect. But at least the people making the rules, we will vote for and we can remove,” he told Laura, 24, and Amy, 25. | “I can’t guarantee that once we’re running our own affairs again, things will be perfect. But at least the people making the rules, we will vote for and we can remove,” he told Laura, 24, and Amy, 25. |
| “I also think we should be a bit prouder of who we are as a country, stand a bit taller as a country, and maybe re-engage our friendships with India, Australia, Canada and the Commonwealth, and have a more global view of the world,” Farage argued, producing from his jacket pocket his passport for about the dozenth time that morning to show the gold “European Union” wording. | “I also think we should be a bit prouder of who we are as a country, stand a bit taller as a country, and maybe re-engage our friendships with India, Australia, Canada and the Commonwealth, and have a more global view of the world,” Farage argued, producing from his jacket pocket his passport for about the dozenth time that morning to show the gold “European Union” wording. |
| The two women were left a bit dazzled but unsure. “I still don’t know what to do,” said Amy. “We’ve been in the EU all my life and the country is totally shit, so I don’t know if leaving can make anything much worse.” | The two women were left a bit dazzled but unsure. “I still don’t know what to do,” said Amy. “We’ve been in the EU all my life and the country is totally shit, so I don’t know if leaving can make anything much worse.” |
| In general the reception was friendly, with several stalls in the indoor food market area hanging signs from Farage’s leave camp, and seeking pictures with him. | In general the reception was friendly, with several stalls in the indoor food market area hanging signs from Farage’s leave camp, and seeking pictures with him. |
| Here are some of Farage’s tweets about his visit. | Here are some of Farage’s tweets about his visit. |
| Fantastic response in Birmingham from small business owners who want their country back. #BrexitBusTour pic.twitter.com/VmLHxjaiPY | Fantastic response in Birmingham from small business owners who want their country back. #BrexitBusTour pic.twitter.com/VmLHxjaiPY |
| The enthusiasm to Leave EU here in Birmingham is incredible. Extremely encouraging. #BrexitBusTour pic.twitter.com/sv6907oONL | The enthusiasm to Leave EU here in Birmingham is incredible. Extremely encouraging. #BrexitBusTour pic.twitter.com/sv6907oONL |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.45pm BST | at 12.45pm BST |
| 12.31pm BST | 12.31pm BST |
| 12:31 | 12:31 |
| And here are some lines from Chris Grayling’s Q&A. | And here are some lines from Chris Grayling’s Q&A. |
| Grayling on where EU money would go' We wouldn't necessarily spend every penny on the NHS.' Surely NOT what it says on the side of the bus? | Grayling on where EU money would go' We wouldn't necessarily spend every penny on the NHS.' Surely NOT what it says on the side of the bus? |
| Grayling; Vote Leave can only set out options for the Government. Cutting VAT on fuel is one of the options. | Grayling; Vote Leave can only set out options for the Government. Cutting VAT on fuel is one of the options. |
| That is not quite the way it came out in today’s Sun. | That is not quite the way it came out in today’s Sun. |
| Grayling "interpreted" Priti comment about leaders of Remain camp being too posh to push on migration as "about banks + big biz" not the PM. | Grayling "interpreted" Priti comment about leaders of Remain camp being too posh to push on migration as "about banks + big biz" not the PM. |
| Sky’s Beth Rigby thinks Grayling may be more interested in a post-referendum promotion than Patel. | Sky’s Beth Rigby thinks Grayling may be more interested in a post-referendum promotion than Patel. |
| Grayling invited by press 2 attack Javid, and pile in behind Patel on 'posh remainers'. He has declined. Post #Euref promotion. Definitely. | Grayling invited by press 2 attack Javid, and pile in behind Patel on 'posh remainers'. He has declined. Post #Euref promotion. Definitely. |
| Chris Grayling turns a blind eye to the upheaval in the Tory party: "I am not part of a party that is going to rip itself to pieces." | Chris Grayling turns a blind eye to the upheaval in the Tory party: "I am not part of a party that is going to rip itself to pieces." |
| Chris Grayling says he does not feel like he's in a party about to rip itself apart & all will go back to normal in three weeks' time. Hmm! | Chris Grayling says he does not feel like he's in a party about to rip itself apart & all will go back to normal in three weeks' time. Hmm! |
| Grayling: I trust Sir Jeremy Heywood to lead the Brexit talks with the EU if Britons vote to leave on June 23. #EUref | Grayling: I trust Sir Jeremy Heywood to lead the Brexit talks with the EU if Britons vote to leave on June 23. #EUref |
| 12.15pm BST | 12.15pm BST |
| 12:15 | 12:15 |
| Grayling says UK is not protected from 'every closer union' | Grayling says UK is not protected from 'every closer union' |
| Here is the full text of Chris Grayling’s Vote Leave speech, on the risks of remaining in the EU. | Here is the full text of Chris Grayling’s Vote Leave speech, on the risks of remaining in the EU. |
| And here are the key points. | And here are the key points. |
| So what’s the problem. Well, ladies and gentlemen, the problem is this. We have an opt-out from the euro. We have an opt-out from the Schengen Area. We have an opt-out from some justice and home affairs measures. | So what’s the problem. Well, ladies and gentlemen, the problem is this. We have an opt-out from the euro. We have an opt-out from the Schengen Area. We have an opt-out from some justice and home affairs measures. |
| But on everything else we have no opt out. We are subject to every law introduced by the EU and in the eurozone. On banking and financial services. On business regulation. And on EU social policy, on the so-called social Europe, we have no opt out. | But on everything else we have no opt out. We are subject to every law introduced by the EU and in the eurozone. On banking and financial services. On business regulation. And on EU social policy, on the so-called social Europe, we have no opt out. |
| So we have a new list of EU social policies which will deepen integration across the eurozone. But these will be EU laws passed in the normal way. There is no other method of doing so right now. And we have no opt-out from them. | So we have a new list of EU social policies which will deepen integration across the eurozone. But these will be EU laws passed in the normal way. There is no other method of doing so right now. And we have no opt-out from them. |
| Many of these measures will be things we already do well; some may be measures we would want in the UK. The point is that it should be up to us to control what happens to the NHS, to workers’ rights and to social protection and control over these areas should not lie with Brussels ... | Many of these measures will be things we already do well; some may be measures we would want in the UK. The point is that it should be up to us to control what happens to the NHS, to workers’ rights and to social protection and control over these areas should not lie with Brussels ... |
| And this is why we are not at all exempt from ever closer union. Because the nuts and bolts of integration will come from new EU laws passed under the terms of the Lisbon treaty. | And this is why we are not at all exempt from ever closer union. Because the nuts and bolts of integration will come from new EU laws passed under the terms of the Lisbon treaty. |
| The Lisbon treaty itself is a huge part of the problem. | The Lisbon treaty itself is a huge part of the problem. |
| It is vaguely worded, and gives both the commission and the European court of justice free rein to expand their brief and take over competences from the member states. | It is vaguely worded, and gives both the commission and the European court of justice free rein to expand their brief and take over competences from the member states. |
| It’s already happened. Under the treaty individual countries are supposed to be responsible for social security. But the European court decided that the free movement rights of the European citizen were more important, and now the EU controls more and more aspects of our benefit system. A treaty we signed in good faith is being rewritten by a court whose president made a speech saying the job of the European commission is to resist Euroscepticism. | It’s already happened. Under the treaty individual countries are supposed to be responsible for social security. But the European court decided that the free movement rights of the European citizen were more important, and now the EU controls more and more aspects of our benefit system. A treaty we signed in good faith is being rewritten by a court whose president made a speech saying the job of the European commission is to resist Euroscepticism. |
| 11.40am BST | 11.40am BST |
| 11:40 | 11:40 |
| My colleague Peter Walker has been tweeting from Nigel Farage’s visit to Birmingham. | My colleague Peter Walker has been tweeting from Nigel Farage’s visit to Birmingham. |
| He's here! Farage drives into the middle of the market in his purple bus. Lots of talk about Brussels bureaucrats pic.twitter.com/C3NXe3sYsP | He's here! Farage drives into the middle of the market in his purple bus. Lots of talk about Brussels bureaucrats pic.twitter.com/C3NXe3sYsP |
| "Do you want 508 million people to have this passport?" Farage booms from mic. "No!" yell back dozen or so people. | "Do you want 508 million people to have this passport?" Farage booms from mic. "No!" yell back dozen or so people. |
| Farage asked by local dad to sign his T shirt saying, "Sons of Anarchists". Farage visibly not sure but still does. | Farage asked by local dad to sign his T shirt saying, "Sons of Anarchists". Farage visibly not sure but still does. |
| Some people here I've talked to say they think Farage is best person to deliver Brexit message but sidelined for Johnson & Gove | Some people here I've talked to say they think Farage is best person to deliver Brexit message but sidelined for Johnson & Gove |
| Nigel Farage has now taken out his passport to show to people to show off the "EU passport" wording about a dozen times now. | Nigel Farage has now taken out his passport to show to people to show off the "EU passport" wording about a dozen times now. |
| Nigel Faraga talks fish quotas at a fish counter in the indoor market. pic.twitter.com/UjlU7scEzg | Nigel Faraga talks fish quotas at a fish counter in the indoor market. pic.twitter.com/UjlU7scEzg |
| 11.34am BST | 11.34am BST |
| 11:34 | 11:34 |
| Michael Gove’s claim that he is opposed to VAT because it’s unfair on the poor (see 10.13am) may sound unlikely, but in his book about the coalition government, Coalition, David Laws, the Lib Dem former schools minister, says Gove has progressive views on tax at odds with official Conservative policy. | Michael Gove’s claim that he is opposed to VAT because it’s unfair on the poor (see 10.13am) may sound unlikely, but in his book about the coalition government, Coalition, David Laws, the Lib Dem former schools minister, says Gove has progressive views on tax at odds with official Conservative policy. |
| He describes Gove as someone who “had quietly let it be known that he thought the 2012 reduction in the top rate of tax was premature; and who was believed to have told friends that he thought inheritance tax should be increased, not reduced.” | He describes Gove as someone who “had quietly let it be known that he thought the 2012 reduction in the top rate of tax was premature; and who was believed to have told friends that he thought inheritance tax should be increased, not reduced.” |
| Laws worked with Gove in the Department for Education and admires him. | Laws worked with Gove in the Department for Education and admires him. |
| His book, by the way, may not be the definitive account of the coalition, as claimed on the cover, but is a very good one nevertheless, and excellent on Lib Dem/Conservative policy negotiations. Laws and Nick Clegg (whose notes he uses) also seem to have kept a lot of verbatim records, and so there are far more direct quotes than usual in a memoir like this, which help to make it a lively read. | His book, by the way, may not be the definitive account of the coalition, as claimed on the cover, but is a very good one nevertheless, and excellent on Lib Dem/Conservative policy negotiations. Laws and Nick Clegg (whose notes he uses) also seem to have kept a lot of verbatim records, and so there are far more direct quotes than usual in a memoir like this, which help to make it a lively read. |