This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

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

The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 15 Version 16
EU referendum live – Vote Leave backtracks on energy bills claim EU referendum live – Vote Leave backtracks on energy bills claim
(35 minutes later)
5.14pm BST
17:14
Here is some reaction to the Guardian/ICM poll.
From Matt Singh, who runs the NumbrCrunchrPolitics blog
This won't make happy reading for the Remain camp. But past experience with bank holiday weekends says "be cautious" https://t.co/AWRQrSfqGF
From the Spectator’s James Forsyth
This will put the cat among the pigeons, and add towards sense that something might have moved in the last few days https://t.co/ftQzzAh0hp
Just 2 polls, 1 online / 1 phone, but Leave ahead with govt in purdah suggests EU ref could be closer than expected https://t.co/Xwz6QJqe06
From BuzzFeed’s James Ball
This is odd: Guardian/ICM phone poll has swung 14pts in a month, while the online poll is unchanged. https://t.co/VTrAmXLXgz
From Matthew Goodwin, politics professor at the University of Kent
Can't read into polls too much tho suspect latest net migration figures & Leave's push on immigration will be cited as contributory factors
From Will Jennings, political science professor at the University of Southampton
Seismic shifts rarely occur in public opinion, and never on the basis of just a single poll. Why do I even bother?! https://t.co/8NVs1kyo4B
Which is not to say public opinion isn't necessarily fluctuating, just a 14-point swing is a little less than likely...
From Philip Cowley, politics professor at Queen Mary, University of London
Because everyone's focused on 23 June, few paying much attention to 'normal' opinion polls. They should be.
Latest have Conservatives ahead by 4 (phone) or 5 points (online). That's one year into government, in the middle of a Tory Civil War.
4.52pm BST
16:52
Someone BTL was asking what Labour have been up to today on the EU referendum front. Well, Alan Johnson, chair of Labour In for Britain, has been in Barry in South Wales.
It hasn’t been all hard work.
4.46pm BST
16:46
Here’s Professor John Curtice, the leading psephologist, on today’s Guardian poll.
Today's @ICMResearch #euref phone poll is the 3rd to put Leave ahead. Previous ones by @ORB_Int & @YouGov. https://t.co/nSDg1eTXuE
Today's 2 @ICMResearch #euref polls move our Poll of Polls to Remain 51 (-2 on this am) Leave 49 (-2). 3/6 phone. https://t.co/juaJun47Yb
4.40pm BST
16:40
Sterling falls after Guardian/ICM poll shows rise in support for Brexit
The Guardian’s ICM poll has led to a small drop in the value of sterling against the dollar.
This is from the Wall Street Journal’s Mike Bird.
Sterling Slumps as Phone Poll Shows Brexit Referendum Getting Tighter https://t.co/pLuFux3MrM pic.twitter.com/yfire9SGv6
And this is from Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel.
Pound down q sharply against US Dollar on back of ICM phone poll showing lead for Leave (52-48) in #EUreferendum pic.twitter.com/din3IRA9n8
4.34pm BST4.34pm BST
16:3416:34
Farage cancels visit to avoid protestFarage cancels visit to avoid protest
Nigel Farage’s Grassroots Out bus was due to drive to Northampton for another campaign stop. However, as it headed there word came from waiting supporters that 50 or more protesters from the Hope Not Hate group, which has previously targeted Ukip, were also there.Nigel Farage’s Grassroots Out bus was due to drive to Northampton for another campaign stop. However, as it headed there word came from waiting supporters that 50 or more protesters from the Hope Not Hate group, which has previously targeted Ukip, were also there.
Fearing potential trouble the Northampton stop has been postponed, with the bus group currently waiting at a pub outside the town. Farage said he was upset to not be able to go ahead with the stop. “This has never happened before, that I’ve had to cancel something.”Fearing potential trouble the Northampton stop has been postponed, with the bus group currently waiting at a pub outside the town. Farage said he was upset to not be able to go ahead with the stop. “This has never happened before, that I’ve had to cancel something.”
Aides said the decision was made on police advice.Aides said the decision was made on police advice.
A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire police denied that it had advised Farage’s team to cancel their visit. She said there was no sign of any Hope Not Hate protesters. “There’s a few people handing out leaflets to leave the EU, but that’s it,” she said.A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire police denied that it had advised Farage’s team to cancel their visit. She said there was no sign of any Hope Not Hate protesters. “There’s a few people handing out leaflets to leave the EU, but that’s it,” she said.
Either way, Farage is now in another pub, chatting to a small group of supporters who have come to him. He was last seen posing for a photo with a large Union flag.Either way, Farage is now in another pub, chatting to a small group of supporters who have come to him. He was last seen posing for a photo with a large Union flag.
Lesson from a day with Farage's Brexit camp: consumption of beer and cigarettes would put a 1970s newspaper office to shame.Lesson from a day with Farage's Brexit camp: consumption of beer and cigarettes would put a 1970s newspaper office to shame.
4.27pm BST4.27pm BST
16:2716:27
How Vote Leave Tories backed increasing VAT on fuel to 17.5%How Vote Leave Tories backed increasing VAT on fuel to 17.5%
Britain Stronger in Europe is accusing some senior Vote Leave Tories of “hypocrisy” over VAT on fuel because, while Vote Leave is now calling for the abolition of VAT on fuel, they voted in favour of VAT on fuel being increased to 17.5% in the 1990s.Britain Stronger in Europe is accusing some senior Vote Leave Tories of “hypocrisy” over VAT on fuel because, while Vote Leave is now calling for the abolition of VAT on fuel, they voted in favour of VAT on fuel being increased to 17.5% in the 1990s.
Norman Lamont proposed this when he was chancellor. But when his successor Kenneth Clarke tried to implement this in December 1994, he was defeated by an alliance of Labour and Tory rebels, forcing him to respond with an emergency budget.Norman Lamont proposed this when he was chancellor. But when his successor Kenneth Clarke tried to implement this in December 1994, he was defeated by an alliance of Labour and Tory rebels, forcing him to respond with an emergency budget.
Three prominent Vote Leave Tories, Iain Duncan Smith, John Whittingdale and Liam Fox, all voted for the 17.5% increase. Britain Stronger in Europe has even dug out a quote from Duncan Smith at the time saying: “If the opposition want to get rid of the uprating to 17.5% VAT on fuel, where will they find the extra money?”Three prominent Vote Leave Tories, Iain Duncan Smith, John Whittingdale and Liam Fox, all voted for the 17.5% increase. Britain Stronger in Europe has even dug out a quote from Duncan Smith at the time saying: “If the opposition want to get rid of the uprating to 17.5% VAT on fuel, where will they find the extra money?”
In a press notice issued by Britain Stronger in Europe, the Labour MP Conor McGinn said:In a press notice issued by Britain Stronger in Europe, the Labour MP Conor McGinn said:
This just goes to prove that the Leave campaigners are so desperate, they will say anything. They are badly mistaken if they think working people will fall for this sort of cynicism and hypocrisy.This just goes to prove that the Leave campaigners are so desperate, they will say anything. They are badly mistaken if they think working people will fall for this sort of cynicism and hypocrisy.
But the point is not an especially strong one. It was Conservative government policy to raise VAT on fuel to 17.5%, and none of these three Tories was important enough to have any say in shaping the policy. Fox was a whip in 1994, and Whittingdale was a parliamentary private secretary, which means they would have had to resign if they wanted to vote against the government. Duncan Smith could have rebelled. He didn’t. But it was 12 years ago.But the point is not an especially strong one. It was Conservative government policy to raise VAT on fuel to 17.5%, and none of these three Tories was important enough to have any say in shaping the policy. Fox was a whip in 1994, and Whittingdale was a parliamentary private secretary, which means they would have had to resign if they wanted to vote against the government. Duncan Smith could have rebelled. He didn’t. But it was 12 years ago.
UpdatedUpdated
at 4.28pm BSTat 4.28pm BST
4.01pm BST4.01pm BST
16:0116:01
McDonnell says Khan sharing platform with Cameron discredited LabourMcDonnell says Khan sharing platform with Cameron discredited Labour
Yesterday Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, shared a platform with David Cameron at an event to make the case for staying in the EU. This was remarkable not just because Cameron used PMQs to launch very personal attacks on Khan during the mayoral election (accusing him of being sympathetic to Islamist extremists), but also because other Labour figures, like Jeremy Corbyn and Alan Johnson, have ruled out campaigning alongside Cameron. They remember all too well what happened in Scotland, where Labour campaigned with the Tories against independence in 2014 only to see its vote disintegrate at the general election.Yesterday Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, shared a platform with David Cameron at an event to make the case for staying in the EU. This was remarkable not just because Cameron used PMQs to launch very personal attacks on Khan during the mayoral election (accusing him of being sympathetic to Islamist extremists), but also because other Labour figures, like Jeremy Corbyn and Alan Johnson, have ruled out campaigning alongside Cameron. They remember all too well what happened in Scotland, where Labour campaigned with the Tories against independence in 2014 only to see its vote disintegrate at the general election.
At a Labour In for Britain event in Wolverhampton last night, John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, accused Khan of discrediting Labour. According to PoliticsHome this is what he said when asked if Labour should campaign for Remain alongside Cameron.At a Labour In for Britain event in Wolverhampton last night, John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, accused Khan of discrediting Labour. According to PoliticsHome this is what he said when asked if Labour should campaign for Remain alongside Cameron.
The Europe that the Tories want is not our Europe. Cameron went to negotiate away workers’ rights in advance of this referendum. If he could have done it, he would have done.The Europe that the Tories want is not our Europe. Cameron went to negotiate away workers’ rights in advance of this referendum. If he could have done it, he would have done.
If Cameron and his crew are still in power after this referendum they will continue dismantling our welfare state. They will continue to cut benefits, undermine wages and cut public service jobs. This will go on.If Cameron and his crew are still in power after this referendum they will continue dismantling our welfare state. They will continue to cut benefits, undermine wages and cut public service jobs. This will go on.
Sharing a platform with them discredits us. It demotivates the very people we are trying to mobilise.Sharing a platform with them discredits us. It demotivates the very people we are trying to mobilise.
3.38pm BST3.38pm BST
15:3815:38
Guardian/ICM phone and online polls both show Leave ahead - with Leave support rising sharply on phone pollGuardian/ICM phone and online polls both show Leave ahead - with Leave support rising sharply on phone poll
The Guardian has just published its latest ICM polling on the EU referendum. Both the online survey and the phone survey show Leave ahead, and the phone poll shows a sharp rise in support for Leave.The Guardian has just published its latest ICM polling on the EU referendum. Both the online survey and the phone survey show Leave ahead, and the phone poll shows a sharp rise in support for Leave.
Here is Heather Stewart’s story.Here is Heather Stewart’s story.
Related: UK voters leaning towards Brexit, Guardian poll revealsRelated: UK voters leaning towards Brexit, Guardian poll reveals
Here is the start of the story.Here is the start of the story.
Public opinion has shifted towards the UK leaving the EU, two Guardian/ICM polls suggest as the referendum campaign picks up pace – with voters splitting 52-48 in favour of Brexit whether surveyed online or by phone.Public opinion has shifted towards the UK leaving the EU, two Guardian/ICM polls suggest as the referendum campaign picks up pace – with voters splitting 52-48 in favour of Brexit whether surveyed online or by phone.
Previous polls have tended to show voters surveyed online to be more in favour of Britain leaving the EU. But in the latest ICM research, carried out for the Guardian, both methodologies yielded the same result – a majority in favour of leaving.Previous polls have tended to show voters surveyed online to be more in favour of Britain leaving the EU. But in the latest ICM research, carried out for the Guardian, both methodologies yielded the same result – a majority in favour of leaving.
“Our poll rather unhinges a few accepted orthodoxies,” said ICM’s director, Martin Boon. “It is only one poll, but in a rather unexpected reverse of polling assumptions so far, both our phone poll and our online poll are consistent on both vote intentions and on the EU referendum.”“Our poll rather unhinges a few accepted orthodoxies,” said ICM’s director, Martin Boon. “It is only one poll, but in a rather unexpected reverse of polling assumptions so far, both our phone poll and our online poll are consistent on both vote intentions and on the EU referendum.”
And here are the key figuresAnd here are the key figures
UpdatedUpdated
at 3.47pm BSTat 3.47pm BST
3.33pm BST3.33pm BST
15:3315:33
In the Q&A after his speech this morning Chris Grayling said Vote Leave had never said every penny saved by not being in the EU would go towards the NHS. (See 12.31pm.) Labour MP Emma Reynolds says this is very significant. In a press notice from Britain Stronger in Europe headed “Vote Leave’s NHS claim blown out of the water”, she says:In the Q&A after his speech this morning Chris Grayling said Vote Leave had never said every penny saved by not being in the EU would go towards the NHS. (See 12.31pm.) Labour MP Emma Reynolds says this is very significant. In a press notice from Britain Stronger in Europe headed “Vote Leave’s NHS claim blown out of the water”, she says:
Chris Grayling has let the cat out of the bag. If these Tory Leave campaigners have their way and take us out of the EU, they won’t spend another penny on our National Health Service. You can’t trust Tories like Chris Grayling to protect the NHS and give it the investment it needs.Chris Grayling has let the cat out of the bag. If these Tory Leave campaigners have their way and take us out of the EU, they won’t spend another penny on our National Health Service. You can’t trust Tories like Chris Grayling to protect the NHS and give it the investment it needs.
The truth is that leaving Europe would land us with less money, not more, to spend on the NHS. Economic experts say leaving would create a £40bn black hole in our public services – opening up our NHS to billions of pounds of damaging cuts.The truth is that leaving Europe would land us with less money, not more, to spend on the NHS. Economic experts say leaving would create a £40bn black hole in our public services – opening up our NHS to billions of pounds of damaging cuts.
3.20pm BST3.20pm BST
15:2015:20
Farage says, if Remain win, UK might not get 2nd referendum until another country leaves EUFarage 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.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.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.”“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.”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.”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.”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.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
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.
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” ...
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.
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
14:07
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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%).
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.
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.
Updated
at 2.20pm BST
1.22pm BST
13:22
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:
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.
12.53pm BST
12:53
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:
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.
12.44pm BST
12:44
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.
“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.
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 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.”
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.
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
Updated
at 12.45pm BST
12.31pm BST
12:31
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; 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.
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.
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 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
12.15pm BST
12:15
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.
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.
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.
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.
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’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
11:40
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
"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.
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 Faraga talks fish quotas at a fish counter in the indoor market. pic.twitter.com/UjlU7scEzg
11.34am BST
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.
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.
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.