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| EU referendum live: Brexit immigration plan would 'wreck economy' | EU referendum live: Brexit immigration plan would 'wreck economy' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.33pm BST | |
| 13:33 | |
| Tom Watson, the Labour deputy leader, has just been on the World at One. He said he was “very concerned” about the figures showing many Labour supporters do not know where the party stands on EU membership, but that it was unfair to blame Jeremy Corbyn. | |
| He also said that he personally would not share a platform with David Cameron to promote the Remain campaign, as Sadiq Khan did. | |
| Labour's Tom Watson says "very concerned" about apathy among Labour votes in EU referendum #wato | |
| Tom Watson says criticism of @jeremycorbyn "very unfair" over EU referendum #wato | |
| Tom Watson says he wd not share a platform with the PM or Chancellor in EU referendum #wato | |
| 1.26pm BST | |
| 13:26 | |
| Here is some Twitter comment on the Vote Leave immigration proposals. (See 10.29am.) | |
| From Andy Burnham, the shadow home secretary | |
| Gove & Boris going full-on UKIP now. If we introduced a points-based system with EU, the terms of our trade deal with them would be ruinous. | |
| From Alan Travis, the Guadian’s home affairs editor | |
| Want an Australian-style immigration system? That'll be 484,000 new migrants a year and net migration of 187k in country 1/3rd size of UK | |
| From Jonathan Portes, a former government economist and immigration expert | |
| Immigration policy post-Brexit. Five questions for @vote_leave -not addressed in their statement - coming up | |
| 1/5 Would "tens of thousands" target be dropped? If not, non-EU migration will need to *fall* - contrary to other statements | |
| 2/5 If migrants admitted on basis of skill/quals, will Tier 2 quota be dropped? If not, system will still exclude qualified non-EU migrants. | |
| 3/5 Will there be any migration for low/medium skilled or will employers/businesses simy have to adjust? | |
| 4/5 Will system for spousal visas & family visas be liberalised (as some in @vote_leave have claimed). If so, how? | |
| 5/5 Will student visa policy be liberalised? If so, how? | |
| From Andrew Lilico, chair of Economists for Britain | |
| It's interesting how we've come to use the term "Australian points-based system" to mean "normal modern immigration controls". | |
| From Pawel Swidlicki, a policy analyst at Open Europe | |
| Notice @vote_leave immigration statement doesn't explicitly promise not to introduce travel visas for EU nationals https://t.co/PXeTqTIQzP | |
| 1.21pm BST | |
| 13:21 | |
| Trump to visit UK day after EU referendum | |
| Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for US president, is visiting the UK the day after the EU referendum, it has been revealed. | |
| Related: Donald Trump to visit UK on day of EU referendum result | |
| 1.12pm BST | |
| 13:12 | |
| The Greens have attacked Vote Leave’s immigration proposals. (See 10.29am.) This is from the Green MEP Jean Lambert. | |
| Misleading statements about immigration are framing free movement as a problem in the EU referendum debate. The truth is that government cuts, and lack of planning and investment in housing, skills and public services are the real problems – not immigration. Michael Gove is a member of that government and has wholeheartedly supported such spending cuts. As mayor of London, Boris Johnson ran an administration which failed to deliver on social housing or rent controls. | |
| EU workers, like other migrant workers, make an important net contribution to our economy. They are our co-workers, our employers, our business associates, our neighbours, our friends, our family. They are contributors – not freeloaders. | |
| 1.02pm BST | |
| 13:02 | |
| My colleagues on Opinion (or Comment is Free, as we still think of it) are running a debate live blog looking at whether the EU referendum is the most abusive political campaign ever. It’s here. | |
| Related: EU debate: the most abusive political campaign ever in Britain? – live | |
| They asked me for a contribution. This is what I sent them. | |
| So, Jon Snow says he cannot recall a “worse-tempered or more abusive, more boring UK campaign” than the one we’re having at the moment about EU membership. He thinks it compares particularly unfavourably with Scotland’s independence referendum in 2014. | |
| Snow clearly did not spend much time on Twitter two years ago. The independence referendum was an uplifting exercise in democratic engagement, prompting a remarkable 85% turnout, but the debate was not all worthy of Cicero, social media got distinctly unpleasant and it culminating in a large crowd descending on the BBC’s HQ in Glasgow to demand the sacking of Nick Robinson for having the temerity to report something disobliging about Alex Salmond. | |
| Even by the standards of a normal general election, the EU referendum campaign does not seem unduly abusive. That is because general elections are about choosing prime ministers, personality is inevitably a legitimate subject of debate and, as figures like Neil Kinnock, John Major and Gordon Brown can attest, vicious, media-driven character assassination is a familiar part of the electoral process. This contest is relatively free of that. | |
| But Snow has got a point about “the wholesale abuse of facts”. There is nothing unusual about politicians using facts selectively, and in this campaign both sides have been criticised for using misleading material, but the Leave camp, with their entirely bogus flagship claim about EU membership costing the UK £350m a week, seem to be setting a new precedent. It is almost as if they have looked at the success of Donald Trump, a one-man lie factory, and decided to road test quite how much dishonesty you can get away with in a British election. The results of the experiment, of course, remain to be seen. | |
| If you want to get involved in the debate, you can comment BTL here, but it would be better if you could comment BTL on the debate blog. | |
| 12.50pm BST | 12.50pm BST |
| 12:50 | 12:50 |
| Cable accuses Boris Johnson of presenting 'juvenile caricature' of single market | Cable accuses Boris Johnson of presenting 'juvenile caricature' of single market |
| Sir Vince Cable, the former Lib Dem business secretary, has been giving a Remain speech in Bristol today on the importance of the single market. Here are the key points. | Sir Vince Cable, the former Lib Dem business secretary, has been giving a Remain speech in Bristol today on the importance of the single market. Here are the key points. |
| The juvenile caricatures flowing from the pens of Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and others – the straight bananas, square strawberries and smaller condoms – aren’t just silly and fabricated; they miss the essential point that the single market reduces administrative barriers to trade. Any manufacturer knows that it is costly and inefficient to reproduce 28 versions of the same widget. | The juvenile caricatures flowing from the pens of Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and others – the straight bananas, square strawberries and smaller condoms – aren’t just silly and fabricated; they miss the essential point that the single market reduces administrative barriers to trade. Any manufacturer knows that it is costly and inefficient to reproduce 28 versions of the same widget. |
| I saw the process of integration at work as secretary of state. When I talked to Siemens about their new investment making turbines for offshore wind in Hull they saw themselves as a European company operating within the single market. | I saw the process of integration at work as secretary of state. When I talked to Siemens about their new investment making turbines for offshore wind in Hull they saw themselves as a European company operating within the single market. |
| When I talked to car companies about where they would build their next model- Nissan, General motors/Vauxhall, BMW/Mini, JLR or Ford making engines-a critical concern was their ability to be able to trade freely within the single market on common technical standards. | When I talked to car companies about where they would build their next model- Nissan, General motors/Vauxhall, BMW/Mini, JLR or Ford making engines-a critical concern was their ability to be able to trade freely within the single market on common technical standards. |
| You might respond that “ trade in cars and aerospace is all well and good, but our economy is 80% services”. The are however very porous boundaries between manufacturing and services. Crucial to the success of manufacturing is good software, design, advertising and other creative industries. | You might respond that “ trade in cars and aerospace is all well and good, but our economy is 80% services”. The are however very porous boundaries between manufacturing and services. Crucial to the success of manufacturing is good software, design, advertising and other creative industries. |
| The EU helps these industries by eliminating non-tariff barriers. So it means an engineer or an architect can get off the plane in Munich or Madrid | The EU helps these industries by eliminating non-tariff barriers. So it means an engineer or an architect can get off the plane in Munich or Madrid |
| The next stage of development of the Single Market aims to bring down the remaining barriers to trade in services, energy and digital. | The next stage of development of the Single Market aims to bring down the remaining barriers to trade in services, energy and digital. |
| We are sometimes told by the Brexiteers that if we left the EU we could have a bonfire of EU red tape. But there isn’t much left to burn. The evidence suggests that Britain has some of the least regulated product and labour markets in the world. And, of course, some regulation is essential to protect the environment, to protect consumers and to protect workers. | We are sometimes told by the Brexiteers that if we left the EU we could have a bonfire of EU red tape. But there isn’t much left to burn. The evidence suggests that Britain has some of the least regulated product and labour markets in the world. And, of course, some regulation is essential to protect the environment, to protect consumers and to protect workers. |
| 12.34pm BST | 12.34pm BST |
| 12:34 | 12:34 |
| Vote Leave has responded to the today’s Brexit warning from the OECD. (See 11.06am.) This is from John Longworth, the former British Chambers of Commerce director general who is now chair of the Vote Leave Business Council. | Vote Leave has responded to the today’s Brexit warning from the OECD. (See 11.06am.) This is from John Longworth, the former British Chambers of Commerce director general who is now chair of the Vote Leave Business Council. |
| The most important finding in today’s report is the acknowledgment that the UK economy will continue to grow after we vote to leave the EU. | The most important finding in today’s report is the acknowledgment that the UK economy will continue to grow after we vote to leave the EU. |
| But this is a flawed report, that makes assumptions which have been roundly dismissed by senior economists. | But this is a flawed report, that makes assumptions which have been roundly dismissed by senior economists. |
| Instead of listening to partisan advisory bodies, let’s look at what businesses are actually telling us: that the costly red tape and regulations emanating from Brussels are constraining their ability to innovate and create jobs. If we Vote Leave on 23 June, we can change that. | Instead of listening to partisan advisory bodies, let’s look at what businesses are actually telling us: that the costly red tape and regulations emanating from Brussels are constraining their ability to innovate and create jobs. If we Vote Leave on 23 June, we can change that. |
| In notes to the press release containing Longworth’s statement Vote Leave cites, as evidence of that the OECD is making “assumptions which have been roundly dismissed by economists”, this Independent article by Ashoka Mody, a former director at the International Monetary Fund, saying UK trade would not be affected if Britain left the EU. | In notes to the press release containing Longworth’s statement Vote Leave cites, as evidence of that the OECD is making “assumptions which have been roundly dismissed by economists”, this Independent article by Ashoka Mody, a former director at the International Monetary Fund, saying UK trade would not be affected if Britain left the EU. |
| 12.21pm BST | 12.21pm BST |
| 12:21 | 12:21 |
| ConservativeHome has today published its latest survey of Conservative party members on who they think should be the next party leader. For the third month in a row Michael Gove, the justice secretary, has come out top - even though he says he absolutely does not want the job. | ConservativeHome has today published its latest survey of Conservative party members on who they think should be the next party leader. For the third month in a row Michael Gove, the justice secretary, has come out top - even though he says he absolutely does not want the job. |
| 12.10pm BST | 12.10pm BST |
| 12:10 | 12:10 |
| Labour Leave, the Labour campaign for Britain to leave the EU, wants to run a newspaper advertising campaign promoting its cause. But it can’t afford to at the moment, so it is running a fundraising campaign (details here) to try to drum up some cash for the ads. | Labour Leave, the Labour campaign for Britain to leave the EU, wants to run a newspaper advertising campaign promoting its cause. But it can’t afford to at the moment, so it is running a fundraising campaign (details here) to try to drum up some cash for the ads. |
| Brendan Chilton, Labour Leave’s general secretary, said: | Brendan Chilton, Labour Leave’s general secretary, said: |
| The Remain campaign is bankrolled by big business money, but the Leave campaign doesn’t have anything like the same level of support. | The Remain campaign is bankrolled by big business money, but the Leave campaign doesn’t have anything like the same level of support. |
| The money we send every week to the EU could be better spent on our public services, such as the NHS. We need to get this message out, and that is why we need people’s support to run this advertising campaign. | The money we send every week to the EU could be better spent on our public services, such as the NHS. We need to get this message out, and that is why we need people’s support to run this advertising campaign. |
| Only a handful of Labour MPs are supporting Labour Leave. The party is backing Remain, and the party machine is supporting the Labour In for Britain campaign. | Only a handful of Labour MPs are supporting Labour Leave. The party is backing Remain, and the party machine is supporting the Labour In for Britain campaign. |
| (Actually, Chilton is wrong about Leave not getting as much financial support as Remain. Figures covering all groups, not just Labour Leave, show Leave groups are getting considerably more financial support than Remain groups.) | (Actually, Chilton is wrong about Leave not getting as much financial support as Remain. Figures covering all groups, not just Labour Leave, show Leave groups are getting considerably more financial support than Remain groups.) |
| 11.06am BST | 11.06am BST |
| 11:06 | 11:06 |
| Here is my colleague Larry Elliott’s story about today’s Brexit warning from the OECD. | Here is my colleague Larry Elliott’s story about today’s Brexit warning from the OECD. |
| Related: Brexit could spread shockwaves through global economy, says OECD | Related: Brexit could spread shockwaves through global economy, says OECD |
| Here’s how it starts. | Here’s how it starts. |
| Britain’s departure from the European Union poses as big a threat to the global economy as a “hard landing” in China, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has said. | Britain’s departure from the European Union poses as big a threat to the global economy as a “hard landing” in China, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has said. |
| The Paris-based thinktank said Brexit would have significant costs not just for the UK and Europe, but for the rest of the world. Catherine Mann, the chief economist at the OECD, said the uncertainty caused by the referendum came at a time when the global economy was caught in a low-growth trap. | The Paris-based thinktank said Brexit would have significant costs not just for the UK and Europe, but for the rest of the world. Catherine Mann, the chief economist at the OECD, said the uncertainty caused by the referendum came at a time when the global economy was caught in a low-growth trap. |
| “Spillovers could be significant to other countries,” Mann said, as she predicted that the world economy would grow by 3% in 2016 and by 3.3% in 2017 – forecasts that have remained unchanged since its last health check three months ago. | “Spillovers could be significant to other countries,” Mann said, as she predicted that the world economy would grow by 3% in 2016 and by 3.3% in 2017 – forecasts that have remained unchanged since its last health check three months ago. |
| “We have done a lot of work on what a hard landing in China would mean. It is in the same ball park as Brexit.” | “We have done a lot of work on what a hard landing in China would mean. It is in the same ball park as Brexit.” |
| And here’s a comment from John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor. He said: | And here’s a comment from John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor. He said: |
| Today’s OECD report once again shows the absolute failure of the chancellor’s economic policy. Not only has productivity slumped, but the OECD also highlight the risk of further bubbles in the housing market whilst housebuilding continues at too low a level. Further proof that George Osborne’s recovery is built on sand. | Today’s OECD report once again shows the absolute failure of the chancellor’s economic policy. Not only has productivity slumped, but the OECD also highlight the risk of further bubbles in the housing market whilst housebuilding continues at too low a level. Further proof that George Osborne’s recovery is built on sand. |
| With the OECD forecasting a dramatic shock to the whole economy from a Tory Brexit, it’s clear we can’t risk failed Tory economic policy any more. We need a serious commitment from this government to invest in infrastructure and housing, backed up by a real industrial strategy to place the economy on a sound foundation and build the high-tech, high-wage economy of the future. | With the OECD forecasting a dramatic shock to the whole economy from a Tory Brexit, it’s clear we can’t risk failed Tory economic policy any more. We need a serious commitment from this government to invest in infrastructure and housing, backed up by a real industrial strategy to place the economy on a sound foundation and build the high-tech, high-wage economy of the future. |
| 10.59am BST | 10.59am BST |
| 10:59 | 10:59 |
| Vote Leave's immigration plan would 'wreck our economy', say Britain Stronger in Europe | Vote Leave's immigration plan would 'wreck our economy', say Britain Stronger in Europe |
| Britain Stronger in Europe have put out a briefing responding to the Vote Leave immigration proposals. Here are the main points they are making. | Britain Stronger in Europe have put out a briefing responding to the Vote Leave immigration proposals. Here are the main points they are making. |
| Will Straw, BSE’s executive director, said: | Will Straw, BSE’s executive director, said: |
| This system will not work. Vote Leave’s proposal could put up immigration and it would wreck our economy, as it involves leaving Europe’s single market. | This system will not work. Vote Leave’s proposal could put up immigration and it would wreck our economy, as it involves leaving Europe’s single market. |
| 10.35am BST | 10.35am BST |
| 10:35 | 10:35 |
| Farage says Ukip immigration policies have now become mainstream | Farage says Ukip immigration policies have now become mainstream |
| Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, says he has been vindicated on immigration. | Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, says he has been vindicated on immigration. |
| A points-based immigration system has been a flagship Ukip policy for some time now. | A points-based immigration system has been a flagship Ukip policy for some time now. |
| (Technically, of course, the UK already has a points-based system for non-EU immigration. Ukip, and now Vote Leave, are just proposing to extend the principle to EU migrants.) | (Technically, of course, the UK already has a points-based system for non-EU immigration. Ukip, and now Vote Leave, are just proposing to extend the principle to EU migrants.) |
| Everything I've said on immigration, for which I've been condemned, is now mainstream. I now believe we will win this referendum. | Everything I've said on immigration, for which I've been condemned, is now mainstream. I now believe we will win this referendum. |
| 10.29am BST | 10.29am BST |
| 10:29 | 10:29 |
| Vote Leave publishes its proposals for points-based immigration system | Vote Leave publishes its proposals for points-based immigration system |
| Vote Leave have released a long statement with their proposals for an Australian-style, points-based immigration system. It is jointly signed by Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, Priti Patel, and Gisela Stuart. Here is an extract from the key section. | Vote Leave have released a long statement with their proposals for an Australian-style, points-based immigration system. It is jointly signed by Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, Priti Patel, and Gisela Stuart. Here is an extract from the key section. |
| First, there will be no change for Irish citizens. The right of Irish citizens to enter, reside and work in the UK is already enshrined in our law. This will be entirely unaffected by a vote to leave on 23 June. | First, there will be no change for Irish citizens. The right of Irish citizens to enter, reside and work in the UK is already enshrined in our law. This will be entirely unaffected by a vote to leave on 23 June. |
| As the Northern Ireland secretary has made clear, the common travel area that has existed since the creation of an independent Irish state will not be affected. There will be no change to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. | As the Northern Ireland secretary has made clear, the common travel area that has existed since the creation of an independent Irish state will not be affected. There will be no change to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. |
| Second, there will be no change for EU citizens already lawfully resident in the UK. These EU citizens will automatically be granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK and will be treated no less favourably than they are at present. | Second, there will be no change for EU citizens already lawfully resident in the UK. These EU citizens will automatically be granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK and will be treated no less favourably than they are at present. |
| Third, we will rapidly amend the European Communities Act 1972 to take back the power to remove criminals and other persons whose presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good. There are dangerous people living in the UK who we cannot currently remove because of EU law ... | Third, we will rapidly amend the European Communities Act 1972 to take back the power to remove criminals and other persons whose presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good. There are dangerous people living in the UK who we cannot currently remove because of EU law ... |
| Connected to this is the need immediately to end the application of the EU’s charter of fundamental rights to UK law. This charter gives the rogue European court practically unlimited powers to extend its jurisdiction. By ending its application in UK law, we will take back control of how Britain implements the crucial 1951 UN convention on refugees and end the charter’s ability to affect immigration and asylum law. | Connected to this is the need immediately to end the application of the EU’s charter of fundamental rights to UK law. This charter gives the rogue European court practically unlimited powers to extend its jurisdiction. By ending its application in UK law, we will take back control of how Britain implements the crucial 1951 UN convention on refugees and end the charter’s ability to affect immigration and asylum law. |
| Fourth, by the next general election, we will create a genuine Australian-style points based immigration system. The automatic right of all EU citizens to come to live and work in the UK will end, as will EU control over vital aspects of our social security system. EU citizens will be subject to legislation made by those we elect in Westminster, not in Brussels. We could then create fairness between EU citizens and others, including those from Commonwealth countries. | Fourth, by the next general election, we will create a genuine Australian-style points based immigration system. The automatic right of all EU citizens to come to live and work in the UK will end, as will EU control over vital aspects of our social security system. EU citizens will be subject to legislation made by those we elect in Westminster, not in Brussels. We could then create fairness between EU citizens and others, including those from Commonwealth countries. |
| Those seeking entry for work or study should be admitted on the basis of their skills without discrimination on the ground of nationality. To gain the right to work, economic migrants will have to be suitable for the job in question. For relevant jobs, we will be able to ensure that all those who come have the ability to speak good English. Such a system can be much less bureaucratic and much simpler than the existing system for non-EU citizens. | Those seeking entry for work or study should be admitted on the basis of their skills without discrimination on the ground of nationality. To gain the right to work, economic migrants will have to be suitable for the job in question. For relevant jobs, we will be able to ensure that all those who come have the ability to speak good English. Such a system can be much less bureaucratic and much simpler than the existing system for non-EU citizens. |
| 10.10am BST | 10.10am BST |
| 10:10 | 10:10 |
| George Osborne, the chancellor, has responded to the OECD warnings. (See 9.38am.) In a statement issued by Britain Stronger in Europe he said: | George Osborne, the chancellor, has responded to the OECD warnings. (See 9.38am.) In a statement issued by Britain Stronger in Europe he said: |
| While the Leave campaign indulges in the fantasy politics of uncosted and unworkable proposals, in the real world we have had today another wake up call of the grim economic consequences of leaving the EU and the single market. | While the Leave campaign indulges in the fantasy politics of uncosted and unworkable proposals, in the real world we have had today another wake up call of the grim economic consequences of leaving the EU and the single market. |
| The highly respected, independent OECD has significantly downgraded Britain’s growth today because of uncertainty about the outcome of the referendum, and they are clear that is just a taste of worse to come if Britain leaves the EU. | The highly respected, independent OECD has significantly downgraded Britain’s growth today because of uncertainty about the outcome of the referendum, and they are clear that is just a taste of worse to come if Britain leaves the EU. |
| They say our economy would be hit for years to come, with GDP three per cent lower by 2020 and five per cent lower by 2030, and the impact on living standards would be strongly negative. | They say our economy would be hit for years to come, with GDP three per cent lower by 2020 and five per cent lower by 2030, and the impact on living standards would be strongly negative. |
| If we vote to Remain, however, and continue to take advantage of the free trade and investment that comes with membership of a reformed EU, the OECD is clear that the future is bright, with growth projected to rebound this year. This is a hugely significant and timely intervention. | If we vote to Remain, however, and continue to take advantage of the free trade and investment that comes with membership of a reformed EU, the OECD is clear that the future is bright, with growth projected to rebound this year. This is a hugely significant and timely intervention. |
| 9.38am BST | 9.38am BST |
| 09:38 | 09:38 |
| OECD says Brexit would have 'substantial negative consequences' for UK and world economy | OECD says Brexit would have 'substantial negative consequences' for UK and world economy |
| The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has said this morning Britain leaving the EU would have a “substantial” impact on the UK and global economy. And they don’t mean a positive impact. The Press Association has filed a story with more details. | The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has said this morning Britain leaving the EU would have a “substantial” impact on the UK and global economy. And they don’t mean a positive impact. The Press Association has filed a story with more details. |
| Leaving the EU would have a “substantial” impact on the UK and global economy while also sparking turmoil in world stock markets, according to the OECD as it ramped up its warnings ahead of the referendum. | Leaving the EU would have a “substantial” impact on the UK and global economy while also sparking turmoil in world stock markets, according to the OECD as it ramped up its warnings ahead of the referendum. |
| The OECD slashed its forecasts for the UK economy as it said Brexit fears have already “undermined” growth. | The OECD slashed its forecasts for the UK economy as it said Brexit fears have already “undermined” growth. |
| It added that Brexit would have significant impact on growth across Europe and rest of the world and trigger turbulence in financial markets. | It added that Brexit would have significant impact on growth across Europe and rest of the world and trigger turbulence in financial markets. |
| In its latest economic outlook forecast, it said: “A decision to exit would result in considerable additional volatility in financial markets and an extended period of uncertainty about future policy developments, with substantial negative consequences for the United Kingdom, the European Union and the rest of the world.” | In its latest economic outlook forecast, it said: “A decision to exit would result in considerable additional volatility in financial markets and an extended period of uncertainty about future policy developments, with substantial negative consequences for the United Kingdom, the European Union and the rest of the world.” |
| The OECD cut its forecast for UK growth this year to 1.7%, down from 2.2% predicted in February. | The OECD cut its forecast for UK growth this year to 1.7%, down from 2.2% predicted in February. |
| But this assumes a vote to remain in the EU, and the OECD reiterated Brexit warnings for growth following a report in April which said it would cost British workers the equivalent of a month’s pay by the end of the decade. | But this assumes a vote to remain in the EU, and the OECD reiterated Brexit warnings for growth following a report in April which said it would cost British workers the equivalent of a month’s pay by the end of the decade. |
| The OECD estimated in April that by 2020 GDP would be more than 3% down on what it would have been if Britain had remained in the EU - the equivalent of £2,200 per household at today’s prices ... | The OECD estimated in April that by 2020 GDP would be more than 3% down on what it would have been if Britain had remained in the EU - the equivalent of £2,200 per household at today’s prices ... |
| The group’s latest gloomy assessment also underlines its fears over the global economy, which it said would fail to see growth pick up this year, remaining at 3%, and only edge up slightly in 2017 to 3.3%. | The group’s latest gloomy assessment also underlines its fears over the global economy, which it said would fail to see growth pick up this year, remaining at 3%, and only edge up slightly in 2017 to 3.3%. |
| “Eight years after the financial crisis, the recovery remains disappointingly weak,” it said. | “Eight years after the financial crisis, the recovery remains disappointingly weak,” it said. |
| It added: “The forthcoming UK referendum on EU membership has already raised uncertainty, and an exit would depress growth in Europe and elsewhere substantially.” | It added: “The forthcoming UK referendum on EU membership has already raised uncertainty, and an exit would depress growth in Europe and elsewhere substantially.” |
| In the UK, the OECD said referendum uncertainty “has led to a significant slowdown in economic activity”. | In the UK, the OECD said referendum uncertainty “has led to a significant slowdown in economic activity”. |
| “Business investment has contracted as businesses have put their spending decisions on hold and hiring intentions have weakened.” | “Business investment has contracted as businesses have put their spending decisions on hold and hiring intentions have weakened.” |
| 9.27am BST | 9.27am BST |
| 09:27 | 09:27 |
| As well as the TUC’s Frances O’Grady, the Today programme also interviewed Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT transport union. He said his union was opposed to EU membership because it did not think EU policies favoured workers. He told the programme: | As well as the TUC’s Frances O’Grady, the Today programme also interviewed Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT transport union. He said his union was opposed to EU membership because it did not think EU policies favoured workers. He told the programme: |
| What worries me about the debate about Europe is that everything’s about “we’d be worse off if we leave”, not better off if we stay in. And the reality is that we as a trade union have opposed being members of the EU since 1979 because we don’t think workers are benefiting from it, and what we’re seeing today with privatisations, with deregulations, the fact that you’ve got a situation where in France and Belgium as we speak workers are protesting because they’re under attack, where in Greece and Spain 50% of young people – 50% of young people – are unemployed - the EU isn’t working for us. It isn’t working for ordinary people. | What worries me about the debate about Europe is that everything’s about “we’d be worse off if we leave”, not better off if we stay in. And the reality is that we as a trade union have opposed being members of the EU since 1979 because we don’t think workers are benefiting from it, and what we’re seeing today with privatisations, with deregulations, the fact that you’ve got a situation where in France and Belgium as we speak workers are protesting because they’re under attack, where in Greece and Spain 50% of young people – 50% of young people – are unemployed - the EU isn’t working for us. It isn’t working for ordinary people. |
| 9.06am BST | 9.06am BST |
| 09:06 | 09:06 |
| This morning, in response to the Vote Leave plans for a points-based immigration system, Ryan Coetzee, director of strategy for Britain Stronger in Europe, posted this on Twitter. | This morning, in response to the Vote Leave plans for a points-based immigration system, Ryan Coetzee, director of strategy for Britain Stronger in Europe, posted this on Twitter. |
| No policy on immigration is the right policy if it crashes the economy. #StrongerIn | No policy on immigration is the right policy if it crashes the economy. #StrongerIn |
| Vote Leave claim this shows the Remain camp are out of touch. In a statement Matthew Elliott, Vote Leave’s chief executive, said: | Vote Leave claim this shows the Remain camp are out of touch. In a statement Matthew Elliott, Vote Leave’s chief executive, said: |
| The mask has slipped. David Cameron’s campaign strategist has shown just how out of touch the remain campaign is with his argument that “no policy on immigration is the right policy”. The prime minister and his chums have an utter disregard for ordinary people’s concerns over immigration. ‘Working families know that uncontrolled EU migration has driven down wages, increased hospital waiting lists and has made it more difficult to get their kids into good schools. | The mask has slipped. David Cameron’s campaign strategist has shown just how out of touch the remain campaign is with his argument that “no policy on immigration is the right policy”. The prime minister and his chums have an utter disregard for ordinary people’s concerns over immigration. ‘Working families know that uncontrolled EU migration has driven down wages, increased hospital waiting lists and has made it more difficult to get their kids into good schools. |
| The only way to take back control of our borders, and introduce a fairer and more sensible immigration policy is to Vote Leave on 23 June. | The only way to take back control of our borders, and introduce a fairer and more sensible immigration policy is to Vote Leave on 23 June. |
| Coetzee may be surprised to see himself described as “Cameron’s campaign strategist”. He was an adviser to Nick Clegg in the last parliament and was the Lib Dems’ director of strategy in the run up to the election. | Coetzee may be surprised to see himself described as “Cameron’s campaign strategist”. He was an adviser to Nick Clegg in the last parliament and was the Lib Dems’ director of strategy in the run up to the election. |