This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36447926
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| EU referendum: Kinnock urges young voters to prevent 'Brexit by default' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Young people must register to vote in the EU referendum as a low turnout could lead to Brexit "by default", ex-Labour leader Neil Kinnock has warned. | |
| Lord Kinnock said he hoped young voters would back the UK staying in the EU. | Lord Kinnock said he hoped young voters would back the UK staying in the EU. |
| His message at a London rally came as he and five fellow former Labour leaders tried to persuade the party's supporters to vote to remain in Europe. | His message at a London rally came as he and five fellow former Labour leaders tried to persuade the party's supporters to vote to remain in Europe. |
| Leading Brexit campaigners have said leaving the EU could allow millions more to be spent on the NHS. | Leading Brexit campaigners have said leaving the EU could allow millions more to be spent on the NHS. |
| Justice Secretary Michael Gove has called on the government to pledge an extra £100m a week, saying it could come from the UK's EU budget. | Justice Secretary Michael Gove has called on the government to pledge an extra £100m a week, saying it could come from the UK's EU budget. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron has said there would be less money available, not more, if the UK shocked the economy by deciding to quit the EU. | Prime Minister David Cameron has said there would be less money available, not more, if the UK shocked the economy by deciding to quit the EU. |
| 'Pure fantasy' | 'Pure fantasy' |
| About six million residents have yet to register to vote on 23 June, more than a million of them are under the age of 25. | About six million residents have yet to register to vote on 23 June, more than a million of them are under the age of 25. |
| Lord Kinnock said the outcome of the referendum was "vital to the future of British people of all ages" but "the longest and strongest effects will be felt by you - the young generations". | Lord Kinnock said the outcome of the referendum was "vital to the future of British people of all ages" but "the longest and strongest effects will be felt by you - the young generations". |
| "The risk is, if we get a low turnout, regardless of what people's background politics is, that by default Leave could win." | "The risk is, if we get a low turnout, regardless of what people's background politics is, that by default Leave could win." |
| He said: "Don't leave your destiny to others. Don't dodge your duty to yourself. Make sure that you are registered to vote by next Tuesday, 7 June. Then use your vote. | He said: "Don't leave your destiny to others. Don't dodge your duty to yourself. Make sure that you are registered to vote by next Tuesday, 7 June. Then use your vote. |
| "Vote to remain - and ask your grandparents and those who care about your future to do the same." | "Vote to remain - and ask your grandparents and those who care about your future to do the same." |
| The former Labour leader and European Commissioner said young voters should ignore claims made by Brexit supporters, dismissing their promises as "pure fantasy" and "pants", adding that "none of the figures add up". | The former Labour leader and European Commissioner said young voters should ignore claims made by Brexit supporters, dismissing their promises as "pure fantasy" and "pants", adding that "none of the figures add up". |
| Lord Kinnock said claims that money would be freed up for the NHS and cuts in VAT, while the same level of support was kept for agriculture, science and small businesses, were "bogus". | Lord Kinnock said claims that money would be freed up for the NHS and cuts in VAT, while the same level of support was kept for agriculture, science and small businesses, were "bogus". |
| "The reason, above all, why those promises are empty is because of the people who are making them," he said. "Look at those who lead for Leave - Boris Johnson, Gove, Grayling, Duncan Smith, Fox and Farage. | "The reason, above all, why those promises are empty is because of the people who are making them," he said. "Look at those who lead for Leave - Boris Johnson, Gove, Grayling, Duncan Smith, Fox and Farage. |
| "Have they ever in their political lives advocated policies that would give priority to spending on the community and its needs, have they ever given priority to public spending on services and investment, have they ever been the friends of working people defending their employment conditions, have they ever wanted to commit a priority to combating poverty and disadvantage?" | "Have they ever in their political lives advocated policies that would give priority to spending on the community and its needs, have they ever given priority to public spending on services and investment, have they ever been the friends of working people defending their employment conditions, have they ever wanted to commit a priority to combating poverty and disadvantage?" |
| In a reference to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's comments on the EU, he concluded: "If I may coin a phrase - no, no, no." | In a reference to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's comments on the EU, he concluded: "If I may coin a phrase - no, no, no." |
| 'Bonfire of rights' | 'Bonfire of rights' |
| Lord Kinnock, along with Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Ed Miliband and ex-acting leaders Harriet Harman and Margaret Beckett, have issued a statement saying: "If Labour stays at home, Britain leaves." | Lord Kinnock, along with Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Ed Miliband and ex-acting leaders Harriet Harman and Margaret Beckett, have issued a statement saying: "If Labour stays at home, Britain leaves." |
| They warned of a "bonfire of workers' rights" if the UK voted to leave and of a "double threat" to Labour-supporting communities of a recession and a "Tory government with an emboldened right wing". | They warned of a "bonfire of workers' rights" if the UK voted to leave and of a "double threat" to Labour-supporting communities of a recession and a "Tory government with an emboldened right wing". |
| They pointed to UK membership of the EU single market and said jobs would be lost if Britain withdrew, adding: "Only Labour can save Britain from Brexit." | They pointed to UK membership of the EU single market and said jobs would be lost if Britain withdrew, adding: "Only Labour can save Britain from Brexit." |
| Those Labour MPs backing an exit say workers' rights are the result of action by the UK, not the EU. | Those Labour MPs backing an exit say workers' rights are the result of action by the UK, not the EU. |
| The former leaders' statement comes amid a drive from both sides to persuade people to register to vote ahead of the 7 June deadline. | The former leaders' statement comes amid a drive from both sides to persuade people to register to vote ahead of the 7 June deadline. |
| There has been concern in the Remain camp that Labour is failing to energise its supporters. | There has been concern in the Remain camp that Labour is failing to energise its supporters. |
| Party leader Jeremy Corbyn - who has previously expressed Eurosceptic views - has been accused of being "half-hearted" in his backing for Labour's position to campaign to stay in the EU. | Party leader Jeremy Corbyn - who has previously expressed Eurosceptic views - has been accused of being "half-hearted" in his backing for Labour's position to campaign to stay in the EU. |
| This week he said there was an "overwhelming case" to remain in, citing issues ranging from mobile phone charges to clean beaches and protecting bees - but also called for sweeping reforms. | This week he said there was an "overwhelming case" to remain in, citing issues ranging from mobile phone charges to clean beaches and protecting bees - but also called for sweeping reforms. |
| 'Pressures set to grow' | 'Pressures set to grow' |
| The Leave campaign's NHS funding claim came in a statement from Mr Gove, Conservative MP Boris Johnson and Labour's Gisela Stuart, who chairs the Leave campaign. | The Leave campaign's NHS funding claim came in a statement from Mr Gove, Conservative MP Boris Johnson and Labour's Gisela Stuart, who chairs the Leave campaign. |
| They said: "As our population grows, and as we all live for longer, so the pressures on the NHS are set to grow. | They said: "As our population grows, and as we all live for longer, so the pressures on the NHS are set to grow. |
| "One of the best ways to protect, and to strengthen, the NHS for the people of this country is to use some money we currently spend on EU membership to invest in improving healthcare." | "One of the best ways to protect, and to strengthen, the NHS for the people of this country is to use some money we currently spend on EU membership to invest in improving healthcare." |
| If the country votes to leave, they said: "The government should use some of the billions saved from leaving the EU to give at least a £100m per week cash transfusion to the NHS." | If the country votes to leave, they said: "The government should use some of the billions saved from leaving the EU to give at least a £100m per week cash transfusion to the NHS." |
| Leave campaigners said that money would be over and above the prime minister's election commitment to an £8bn real terms increase in spending. | Leave campaigners said that money would be over and above the prime minister's election commitment to an £8bn real terms increase in spending. |
| Another Leave campaigner, former Defence Secretary Liam Fox said it was not xenophobic to believe that if you increase the population by three million every 10 years public services would be affected. | Another Leave campaigner, former Defence Secretary Liam Fox said it was not xenophobic to believe that if you increase the population by three million every 10 years public services would be affected. |
| "It becomes very difficult for local authorities to plan how many school places are going to be required and it's very difficult for the NHS to know how many doctors and nurses will be required," he said. | "It becomes very difficult for local authorities to plan how many school places are going to be required and it's very difficult for the NHS to know how many doctors and nurses will be required," he said. |
| But Mr Cameron said: "Nine out of 10 economists say there'll be a profound shock if we leave the EU. That means there will be less money - not more. | But Mr Cameron said: "Nine out of 10 economists say there'll be a profound shock if we leave the EU. That means there will be less money - not more. |
| "It's also why so many doctors and nurses support remaining in the EU." | "It's also why so many doctors and nurses support remaining in the EU." |