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| EU referendum live: Archbishop accuses Farage of racism and 'accentuating fear for political gain' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.57pm BST | |
| 15:57 | |
| Gisela Stuart, one of the few Labour MPs backing Brexit and chair of Vote Leave, has put out a statement criticising the pro-EU party unveiled by her party this morning. She said: | |
| The Labour Party has a proud history of fighting for and securing workers rights - so I am deeply disappointed to see my party belittling what we have achieved. The suggestion that the only reason we have protections in this country is because of the EU is insulting to all the people who have campaigned for these rights here in the UK. | |
| The truth is that uncontrolled migration, and the consequent mass availability of cheap labour, has led to a depression of workers wages. And as we’ve seen from the example of Sports Direct, it has eroded employment conditions too. If we take back control of our immigration system, and introduce an Australian points based system we can change this. | |
| 3.50pm BST | |
| 15:50 | |
| Dominic Raab, a justice minister and a Vote Leave spokesman, says today’s ruling from the European court of justice saying that non-EU migrants illegally entering the Schengen zone should not be detained is a threat to the UK. He said: | |
| These rulings by the European court of justice threaten the integrity of our borders, and create serious risks for our security. It’s also a stark illustration of our loss of proper democratic control to the EU over a sensitive area of policy. | |
| The ruling increases the risk that illegal immigrants will be able to enter the UK, because it weakens the ability of other EU governments to put in place proper checks. The EU is simply not fit for purpose, and the only way to take back control is to Vote Leave on 23 June. | |
| 3.36pm BST | |
| 15:36 | |
| Archbishop of Canterbury accuses Farage of racism and 'accentuating fear for political gain' | |
| Earlier I said that, with his campaign in difficulty, David Cameron might need to recruit someone widely trusted, like the archbishop of Canterbury, to attack Leave for him. (See 12.26pm.) | |
| Uncannily, now that is exactly what has happened. Justin Welby, the archbishop, has been giving evidence to the Commons home affairs committee this afternoon about immigration and he used the hearing to strongly condemn the Ukip leader Nigel Farage for what Farage said about staying in the EU increasing the chances of mass Cologne-style attacks on women. | |
| The Labour MP Keith Vaz, chair of the committee, asked Welby if he agreed that those comments were racist. Welby replied: | |
| I would agree with you. | |
| I think that is an inexcusable pandering to people’s worries and prejudices. | |
| That’s giving legitimisation to racism, which I’ve seen in parishes in which I’ve served and has led to attacks on people in those parishes. And we cannot legitimise that. | |
| Fear is a pastoral issue, you deal with it by recognising it, by standing alongside and providing answers to it. | |
| What that is is accentuating fear for political gain and that is absolutely inexcusable. | |
| Welby also said he condemned the comments “without hesitation”. | |
| Updated | |
| at 3.39pm BST | |
| 3.20pm BST | 3.20pm BST |
| 15:20 | 15:20 |
| Boris Johnson and Gove challenge Cameron to TV debate | Boris Johnson and Gove challenge Cameron to TV debate |
| Boris Johnson and Michael Gove are challenging David Cameron to debate one of them. In response to what Cameron said about their campaign this morning (see 12.49am), they have issued this statement. | Boris Johnson and Michael Gove are challenging David Cameron to debate one of them. In response to what Cameron said about their campaign this morning (see 12.49am), they have issued this statement. |
| The real risk for Britain in this referendum is voting to remain in the EU with a broken single currency and a rogue European court. The safer choice is voting to leave, so we can take back control of our money, borders, security, trade and taxes. | The real risk for Britain in this referendum is voting to remain in the EU with a broken single currency and a rogue European court. The safer choice is voting to leave, so we can take back control of our money, borders, security, trade and taxes. |
| If we needed a reminder of just how risky it is to remain in the EU, the European court has today issued extraordinary judgments that undermine our ability to deal effectively with asylum. | If we needed a reminder of just how risky it is to remain in the EU, the European court has today issued extraordinary judgments that undermine our ability to deal effectively with asylum. |
| We think that the public deserve the chance to hear these issues debated face-to-face between the prime minister and a spokesman for Vote Leave so they can judge for themselves which is the safer choice on 23 June. The prime minister was absolutely right to hold this vote and allow ministers the chance to disagree with him. We hope that in the same spirit he will accept this invitation. | We think that the public deserve the chance to hear these issues debated face-to-face between the prime minister and a spokesman for Vote Leave so they can judge for themselves which is the safer choice on 23 June. The prime minister was absolutely right to hold this vote and allow ministers the chance to disagree with him. We hope that in the same spirit he will accept this invitation. |
| Johnson and Gove are referring to this European court of justice ruling saying non-EU migrants illegally entering an EU state in the Schengen zone should not face detention. | Johnson and Gove are referring to this European court of justice ruling saying non-EU migrants illegally entering an EU state in the Schengen zone should not face detention. |
| 3.01pm BST | 3.01pm BST |
| 15:01 | 15:01 |
| Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, was joined by three of his predecessors at an event at Lib Dem HQ this morning where they spoke out in favour of EU membership. | Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, was joined by three of his predecessors at an event at Lib Dem HQ this morning where they spoke out in favour of EU membership. |
| Farron said a leave vote could break up the UK. | |
| This is too important to remain a blue-on-blue slugfest between two chaps who went to Eton 30 years ago. If we vote ‘out’, there won’t be one referendum but three or four as we face the breakup of the UK. | |
| Nick Clegg said the referendum was a Tory family row. | Nick Clegg said the referendum was a Tory family row. |
| The Conservatives are inflicting their family row on us but it is not their families’ futures at stake. It is not their jobs at stake. Indeed, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove probably regard it as a chance for promotion in their own party. | The Conservatives are inflicting their family row on us but it is not their families’ futures at stake. It is not their jobs at stake. Indeed, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove probably regard it as a chance for promotion in their own party. |
| Paddy Ashdown accused Johnson and Gove of posing as “working-class revolutionaries”. | |
| Boris Johnson and Michael Gove driving around the country in a German bus claiming to be Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels does stretch rational credibility. | Boris Johnson and Michael Gove driving around the country in a German bus claiming to be Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels does stretch rational credibility. |
| Sir Menzies Campbell claimed Nigel Farage was bogus. | Sir Menzies Campbell claimed Nigel Farage was bogus. |
| Nigel Farage is a man of privilege, pretending to be on the side of the under-privileged, while dressed from the pages of Country Life. | Nigel Farage is a man of privilege, pretending to be on the side of the under-privileged, while dressed from the pages of Country Life. |
| The Lib Dems also played this clip of the late Charles Kennedy, another former leader, talking about how important pro-Europeanism was to the party in a rousing speech to conference three years ago. | The Lib Dems also played this clip of the late Charles Kennedy, another former leader, talking about how important pro-Europeanism was to the party in a rousing speech to conference three years ago. |
| Updated | |
| at 3.28pm BST | |
| 2.51pm BST | 2.51pm BST |
| 14:51 | 14:51 |
| Nigel Farage has unveiled a new poster ahead of his TV “debate” with David Cameron tonight. | Nigel Farage has unveiled a new poster ahead of his TV “debate” with David Cameron tonight. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.23pm BST | at 3.23pm BST |
| 2.18pm BST | 2.18pm BST |
| 14:18 | 14:18 |
| What Cameron says about leave's 'six untruths' - and Vote Leave's response | What Cameron says about leave's 'six untruths' - and Vote Leave's response |
| Vote Leave has issued a detailed response to David Cameron’s statement. This is what they are saying about all six of Cameron’s accusations. (See 12.49am.) | Vote Leave has issued a detailed response to David Cameron’s statement. This is what they are saying about all six of Cameron’s accusations. (See 12.49am.) |
| Generally Cameron’s arguments are solid. But his assurances tend to cover the short and medium term, and involve taking declarations from fellow EU leaders at face value. | Generally Cameron’s arguments are solid. But his assurances tend to cover the short and medium term, and involve taking declarations from fellow EU leaders at face value. |
| Some of the Vote Leave assertions involve refusing to accept expert judgments (see 6 below) or differences of interpretation (see 3 below – agreeing not to veto eurozone integration is not the same as giving up the veto). And some of the Vote Leave arguments involve taking a longer-term perspective than Cameron is taking. Most of them, though, are also founded at some level on the belief that EU leaders simply cannot be trusted. | Some of the Vote Leave assertions involve refusing to accept expert judgments (see 6 below) or differences of interpretation (see 3 below – agreeing not to veto eurozone integration is not the same as giving up the veto). And some of the Vote Leave arguments involve taking a longer-term perspective than Cameron is taking. Most of them, though, are also founded at some level on the belief that EU leaders simply cannot be trusted. |
| Here are the six claims, what Cameron is saying, and what Vote Leave is saying in response. | Here are the six claims, what Cameron is saying, and what Vote Leave is saying in response. |
| 1 - UK liable for eurozone bailouts | 1 - UK liable for eurozone bailouts |
| Cameron says: “They said we are liable to bail out eurozone countries. Not true. My renegotiation means we are categorically not liable for eurozone bailouts. It is there in black and white in the legally binding and irreversible negotiation deal.” | Cameron says: “They said we are liable to bail out eurozone countries. Not true. My renegotiation means we are categorically not liable for eurozone bailouts. It is there in black and white in the legally binding and irreversible negotiation deal.” |
| Vote Leave says: The eurozone has “broken its promises before”. It says Cameron’s EU renegotiation is “widely regarded” as not legally binding. And it says article 122 (2) of the treaty on the functioning of the EU allows the council of ministers to give bailouts to countries affected by “severe difficulties caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences beyond its control” under qualified majority voting. | Vote Leave says: The eurozone has “broken its promises before”. It says Cameron’s EU renegotiation is “widely regarded” as not legally binding. And it says article 122 (2) of the treaty on the functioning of the EU allows the council of ministers to give bailouts to countries affected by “severe difficulties caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences beyond its control” under qualified majority voting. |
| 2 - UK rebate at risk | 2 - UK rebate at risk |
| Cameron says: “They said that our rebate, the money that we get back from the EU, is at risk. Again, not true. The British prime minister has a veto on changes to our rebate. Only a British prime minister could decide to give it up.” | Cameron says: “They said that our rebate, the money that we get back from the EU, is at risk. Again, not true. The British prime minister has a veto on changes to our rebate. Only a British prime minister could decide to give it up.” |
| Vote Leave says: The only legal basis for the rebate is an EU decision that expires in five years and the British government itself has said the rebate is agreed by negotiation with EU partners. It also says Cameron himself said in 2005 that getting rid of the rebate in return for common agricultural policy reform was “not ... unreasonable”. | Vote Leave says: The only legal basis for the rebate is an EU decision that expires in five years and the British government itself has said the rebate is agreed by negotiation with EU partners. It also says Cameron himself said in 2005 that getting rid of the rebate in return for common agricultural policy reform was “not ... unreasonable”. |
| 3 - Veto surrendered | 3 - Veto surrendered |
| Cameron says: “They said we’ve given up our ability to veto EU treaties. Again, not true. There’s absolutely nothing in the renegotiation that gives up our veto as a full member of the European Union.” | Cameron says: “They said we’ve given up our ability to veto EU treaties. Again, not true. There’s absolutely nothing in the renegotiation that gives up our veto as a full member of the European Union.” |
| Vote Leave says: As part of his renegotiation, Cameron did agree that the UK would not block further eurozone integration. The deal says: “Member states not participating in the further deepening of the economic and monetary union will not create obstacles to but facilitate such further deepening.” Vote Leave also says the UK would not block countries like Turkey joining the EU because the government supports EU enlargement. | Vote Leave says: As part of his renegotiation, Cameron did agree that the UK would not block further eurozone integration. The deal says: “Member states not participating in the further deepening of the economic and monetary union will not create obstacles to but facilitate such further deepening.” Vote Leave also says the UK would not block countries like Turkey joining the EU because the government supports EU enlargement. |
| 4 - EU spending | 4 - EU spending |
| Cameron says: “They said we had no ability to stop overall EU spending from going up. Again, not true. The budget for the current period, 2014 to 2020, is set in stone and can only be changed with the consent of all countries, including the British prime minister. Again, it’s wrong to claim anything different, and by the way, the spending for this period is lower than in the last period because I negotiated a cut in the EU budget.” | Cameron says: “They said we had no ability to stop overall EU spending from going up. Again, not true. The budget for the current period, 2014 to 2020, is set in stone and can only be changed with the consent of all countries, including the British prime minister. Again, it’s wrong to claim anything different, and by the way, the spending for this period is lower than in the last period because I negotiated a cut in the EU budget.” |
| Vote Leave says: The EU’s budget (multiannual financial framework - MFF) is under pressure and is likely to have to be increased. Vote Leave quotes a European parliament briefing paper saying: “For a number of reasons, implementation of the 2014-2020 MFF has already proven to be challenging, even in its first two years. In order to accommodate unexpected needs within the authorised ceilings, the budgetary authority has already had to resort to almost all the special levers and flexibility instruments provided for in the MFF regulation.” And it says Tony Blair failed to veto a budget in 2005. | Vote Leave says: The EU’s budget (multiannual financial framework - MFF) is under pressure and is likely to have to be increased. Vote Leave quotes a European parliament briefing paper saying: “For a number of reasons, implementation of the 2014-2020 MFF has already proven to be challenging, even in its first two years. In order to accommodate unexpected needs within the authorised ceilings, the budgetary authority has already had to resort to almost all the special levers and flexibility instruments provided for in the MFF regulation.” And it says Tony Blair failed to veto a budget in 2005. |
| 5 - EU army | 5 - EU army |
| Cameron says: “They said we were powerless to stop Britain being forced into an EU army. Again, not true. We have a rock solid veto on EU foreign and defence policy initiatives. Even if it was proposed, we would veto it. Just like William Hague did when he vetoed the idea of a European HQ on defence policy.” | Cameron says: “They said we were powerless to stop Britain being forced into an EU army. Again, not true. We have a rock solid veto on EU foreign and defence policy initiatives. Even if it was proposed, we would veto it. Just like William Hague did when he vetoed the idea of a European HQ on defence policy.” |
| Vote Leave says: An EU agreement allows other member states to establish “permanent structured cooperation” in defence. The UK cannot block this. Also, a Telegraph story last year claimed Cameron was going to drop his opposition to an EU army in return for Angela Merkel supporting his EU renegotiation. | Vote Leave says: An EU agreement allows other member states to establish “permanent structured cooperation” in defence. The UK cannot block this. Also, a Telegraph story last year claimed Cameron was going to drop his opposition to an EU army in return for Angela Merkel supporting his EU renegotiation. |
| 6 - Saving £8bn by leaving the EU | 6 - Saving £8bn by leaving the EU |
| Cameron says: “They said we’d save £8bn if we left the EU. Again, not true – almost every credible economic organisation who’s looked at this has said that the economic shock of leaving Europe would cause a black hole in the public finances, and this would wipe out any saving that might be made. This black hole is estimated at between £20bn and £40bn. That is the scale of the damage that leaving would do to our ability to fund the NHS, our schools or our defences. Indeed, in an unprecedented intervention yesterday, the IFS – one of the most respected independent thinktanks in our country – directly took on this falsehood from the leave campaign. They said, and I quote: ‘Leaving Europe would mean spending less on public services, or taxing more, or borrowing more’.” | Cameron says: “They said we’d save £8bn if we left the EU. Again, not true – almost every credible economic organisation who’s looked at this has said that the economic shock of leaving Europe would cause a black hole in the public finances, and this would wipe out any saving that might be made. This black hole is estimated at between £20bn and £40bn. That is the scale of the damage that leaving would do to our ability to fund the NHS, our schools or our defences. Indeed, in an unprecedented intervention yesterday, the IFS – one of the most respected independent thinktanks in our country – directly took on this falsehood from the leave campaign. They said, and I quote: ‘Leaving Europe would mean spending less on public services, or taxing more, or borrowing more’.” |
| Vote Leave says: The UK’s net contribution to the EU in 2015 was £10.6bn, not £8bn, and Cameron himself said in 2013 that “trading would go on” if the UK left the EU. | Vote Leave says: The UK’s net contribution to the EU in 2015 was £10.6bn, not £8bn, and Cameron himself said in 2013 that “trading would go on” if the UK left the EU. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.23pm BST | at 3.23pm BST |
| 1.11pm BST | 1.11pm BST |
| 13:11 | 13:11 |
| Vote Leave says remain campaign is 'in a blind panic' | Vote Leave says remain campaign is 'in a blind panic' |
| Vote Leave says David Cameron’s decision to hold a press conference this morning shows remain is panicking. It has put out this statement from the Ukip MP Douglas Carswell. | Vote Leave says David Cameron’s decision to hold a press conference this morning shows remain is panicking. It has put out this statement from the Ukip MP Douglas Carswell. |
| The In campaign is in a blind panic. David Cameron’s renegotiation was a failure - no one believes he got a deal worth the paper it was written on. Now people are rejecting his campaign of fear. The prime minister says we need a proper debate about the facts but he is too chicken to take on anyone from the Vote Leave campaign head to head. | The In campaign is in a blind panic. David Cameron’s renegotiation was a failure - no one believes he got a deal worth the paper it was written on. Now people are rejecting his campaign of fear. The prime minister says we need a proper debate about the facts but he is too chicken to take on anyone from the Vote Leave campaign head to head. |
| David Cameron and George Osborne have both admitted that they have given up our right to veto future EU treaties, that the EU has ignored us in the past over bailouts and they know their guarantees on the renegotiation are about as trustworthy as their mate Nick Clegg’s pledges on tuition fees. On 23 June, the public have a choice: if they trust David Cameron and other EU politicians they should vote “in”. If not, they should vote leave to take back control. | David Cameron and George Osborne have both admitted that they have given up our right to veto future EU treaties, that the EU has ignored us in the past over bailouts and they know their guarantees on the renegotiation are about as trustworthy as their mate Nick Clegg’s pledges on tuition fees. On 23 June, the public have a choice: if they trust David Cameron and other EU politicians they should vote “in”. If not, they should vote leave to take back control. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.35pm BST | at 2.35pm BST |
| 12.55pm BST | 12.55pm BST |
| 12:55 | 12:55 |
| Peter Walker | Peter Walker |
| The Remain campaign have wheeled out Lord Mandelson, the business secretary Sajid Javid and CBI head Carolyn Fairbairn for the latest pro-business case against Brexit. And it’s fair to say that Project Fear is alive and well. | The Remain campaign have wheeled out Lord Mandelson, the business secretary Sajid Javid and CBI head Carolyn Fairbairn for the latest pro-business case against Brexit. And it’s fair to say that Project Fear is alive and well. |
| The slogan of the day was “We just don’t know,” explained by Mandelson as the Leave camp’s only answer to how the UK could continue to trade easily and profitably on leaving the EU. A glossy brochure listing Leave’s various models for post-Brexit trade has the slogan on its cover, and a photo of a blindfolded man in a suit about to step off a precipice. It’s not subtle stuff. | The slogan of the day was “We just don’t know,” explained by Mandelson as the Leave camp’s only answer to how the UK could continue to trade easily and profitably on leaving the EU. A glossy brochure listing Leave’s various models for post-Brexit trade has the slogan on its cover, and a photo of a blindfolded man in a suit about to step off a precipice. It’s not subtle stuff. |
| Research done for Britain Stronger in Europe claims Brexit would cost UK businesses that export to the EU an average of £79,000 a year extra in non-tariff barriers, totalling £34bn or so. This is, of course, a figure that is hard to verify. | Research done for Britain Stronger in Europe claims Brexit would cost UK businesses that export to the EU an average of £79,000 a year extra in non-tariff barriers, totalling £34bn or so. This is, of course, a figure that is hard to verify. |
| Mandelson was on scathing form about the Leave campaign, saying he and Javid had written to the group asking to outline what their post-Brexit trade plan actually was. “Michael Gove’s favourite Albanian model?” he asked rhetorically at one point, adding: “No thanks.” Javid, meanwhile, said Leave were “rolling the dice with people’s livelihoods.” | Mandelson was on scathing form about the Leave campaign, saying he and Javid had written to the group asking to outline what their post-Brexit trade plan actually was. “Michael Gove’s favourite Albanian model?” he asked rhetorically at one point, adding: “No thanks.” Javid, meanwhile, said Leave were “rolling the dice with people’s livelihoods.” |
| A Q&A with reporters brought up little of real interest. Mandelson, asked if he was scaremongering, argued the risks were so high he could actually be more alarmist. Questioned on Jeremy Corbyn’s campaiging he praised him for eschewing the big events and “taking the Labour message around the country.” | A Q&A with reporters brought up little of real interest. Mandelson, asked if he was scaremongering, argued the risks were so high he could actually be more alarmist. Questioned on Jeremy Corbyn’s campaiging he praised him for eschewing the big events and “taking the Labour message around the country.” |
| The Remain campaign's latest, entirely non-fear based and positive message to voters about Brexit pic.twitter.com/f4ucFmYNKl | The Remain campaign's latest, entirely non-fear based and positive message to voters about Brexit pic.twitter.com/f4ucFmYNKl |
| 12.49pm BST | 12.49pm BST |
| 12:49 | 12:49 |
| Cameron on the 6 'total untruths' being told by Vote Leave | Cameron on the 6 'total untruths' being told by Vote Leave |
| Here is the key extract from David Cameron’s statement accusing Vote Leave of spreading six “total untruths” | Here is the key extract from David Cameron’s statement accusing Vote Leave of spreading six “total untruths” |
| And because they don’t have any credible experts on their side, what are [Vote Leave] reduced to? Telling complete untruths to the British people. | And because they don’t have any credible experts on their side, what are [Vote Leave] reduced to? Telling complete untruths to the British people. |
| Now in the space of the past few days, here are six of them: | Now in the space of the past few days, here are six of them: |
| 1 - They said we are liable to bail out eurozone countries. Not true. My renegotiation means we are categorically not liable for eurozone bailouts. It is there in black and white in the legally binding and irreversible negotiation deal. | 1 - They said we are liable to bail out eurozone countries. Not true. My renegotiation means we are categorically not liable for eurozone bailouts. It is there in black and white in the legally binding and irreversible negotiation deal. |
| 2 - They said that our rebate, the money that we get back from the EU, is at risk. Again, not true. The British prime minister has a veto on changes to our rebate. Only a British prime minister could decide to give it up. | 2 - They said that our rebate, the money that we get back from the EU, is at risk. Again, not true. The British prime minister has a veto on changes to our rebate. Only a British prime minister could decide to give it up. |
| 3 - They said we’ve given up our ability to veto EU treaties. Again, not true. There’s absolutely nothing in the renegotiation that gives up our veto as a full member of the European Union. | 3 - They said we’ve given up our ability to veto EU treaties. Again, not true. There’s absolutely nothing in the renegotiation that gives up our veto as a full member of the European Union. |
| 4 - They said we had no ability to stop overall EU spending from going up. Again, not true. The budget for the current period, 2014 to 2020, is set in stone and can only be changed with the consent of all countries, including the British prime minister. Again, it’s wrong to claim anything different, and by the way, the spending for this period is lower than in the last period because I negotiated a cut in the EU budget. | 4 - They said we had no ability to stop overall EU spending from going up. Again, not true. The budget for the current period, 2014 to 2020, is set in stone and can only be changed with the consent of all countries, including the British prime minister. Again, it’s wrong to claim anything different, and by the way, the spending for this period is lower than in the last period because I negotiated a cut in the EU budget. |
| 5 - They said we were powerless to stop Britain being forced in to an EU army. Again, not true. We have a rock solid veto on EU foreign and defence policy initiatives. Even if it was proposed, we would veto it. Just like William Hague did when he vetoed the idea of a European HQ on defence policy. | 5 - They said we were powerless to stop Britain being forced in to an EU army. Again, not true. We have a rock solid veto on EU foreign and defence policy initiatives. Even if it was proposed, we would veto it. Just like William Hague did when he vetoed the idea of a European HQ on defence policy. |
| 6 - They said we’d save £8bn if we left the EU. Again, not true – almost every credible economic organisation who’s looked at this has said that the economic shock of leaving Europe would cause a black hole in the public finances, and this would wipe out any saving that might be made. This black hole is estimated at between £20bn and £40bn. That is the scale of the damage that leaving would do to our ability to fund the NHS, our schools or our defences. Indeed, in an unprecedented intervention yesterday, the IFS – one of the most respected independent think tanks in our country – directly took on this falsehood from the leave campaign. They said, and I quote: “Leaving Europe would mean spending less on public services, or taxing more, or borrowing more”. | 6 - They said we’d save £8bn if we left the EU. Again, not true – almost every credible economic organisation who’s looked at this has said that the economic shock of leaving Europe would cause a black hole in the public finances, and this would wipe out any saving that might be made. This black hole is estimated at between £20bn and £40bn. That is the scale of the damage that leaving would do to our ability to fund the NHS, our schools or our defences. Indeed, in an unprecedented intervention yesterday, the IFS – one of the most respected independent think tanks in our country – directly took on this falsehood from the leave campaign. They said, and I quote: “Leaving Europe would mean spending less on public services, or taxing more, or borrowing more”. |
| So there you have it. Credible experts warning about risks to our economic security on the one side, and a series of assertions that turn out to be completely untrue on the other. The leave campaign resorting to total untruths to con people into taking a leap in the dark. | So there you have it. Credible experts warning about risks to our economic security on the one side, and a series of assertions that turn out to be completely untrue on the other. The leave campaign resorting to total untruths to con people into taking a leap in the dark. |
| It is irresponsible. It is wrong. It is time that the leave campaign was called out on the nonsense that they are peddling. | It is irresponsible. It is wrong. It is time that the leave campaign was called out on the nonsense that they are peddling. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.01pm BST | at 2.01pm BST |
| 12.26pm BST | 12.26pm BST |
| 12:26 | 12:26 |
| Cameron's press conference - Verdict | Cameron's press conference - Verdict |
| Proper prime ministerial press conferences are as rare as solar eclipses (as I said earlier) and a flurry of excitement went through the Westminster village this morning when a press notice went out summoning journalists to one at very short notice. In the event, it did not live up to expectations. | Proper prime ministerial press conferences are as rare as solar eclipses (as I said earlier) and a flurry of excitement went through the Westminster village this morning when a press notice went out summoning journalists to one at very short notice. In the event, it did not live up to expectations. |
| It was not just that the event barely lasted longer than a solar eclipse, and that David Cameron only took one question from a newspaper journalist (meaning that the press conference description hardly applies anyway). It was that reporters were expecting a solid intervention, and instead got little more than a reheat of what Cameron told the Jeremy Vine show yesterday. | It was not just that the event barely lasted longer than a solar eclipse, and that David Cameron only took one question from a newspaper journalist (meaning that the press conference description hardly applies anyway). It was that reporters were expecting a solid intervention, and instead got little more than a reheat of what Cameron told the Jeremy Vine show yesterday. |
| Cameron’s point was that he wanted to “call out” (dreadful phrase, but it’s the one he used) Vote Leave for telling six “complete untruths” about the EU choice facing voters. (See 11.25am.) His points were all strong ones. But there were at least three drawbacks with what he was up to. | Cameron’s point was that he wanted to “call out” (dreadful phrase, but it’s the one he used) Vote Leave for telling six “complete untruths” about the EU choice facing voters. (See 11.25am.) His points were all strong ones. But there were at least three drawbacks with what he was up to. |
| First, only six? Anyone who draws up a good list knows that you need at last 10 points and, given Vote Leave’s record as a purveyor of dodgy claims, it would not have taken much work to get into double figures easily. Cameron seemed to be understating his case. | First, only six? Anyone who draws up a good list knows that you need at last 10 points and, given Vote Leave’s record as a purveyor of dodgy claims, it would not have taken much work to get into double figures easily. Cameron seemed to be understating his case. |
| Second, he sounded as if he wanted to accuse Boris Johnson and Michael Gove of lying but could not quite bring himself to do so. This is understandable; “lying” (which means saying something knowing it to be untrue, not just saying something in error) is a strong word which gets used to readily about politicians, most of whom are quite careful not to cross the line that separates the wilfully misleading from the outright fib. This explains why Cameron gave the answer he did about how Gove and Johnson were perhaps making false statements about EU budget matters because they did not understand the detail because they had not been involved in the discussions. (See 11.36am.) ... No, I don’t buy it either. Cameron ended up sounding just a tad naive. If he thinks they’re lying, perhaps it would be best to say so. But, of course, he can’t do that either, because at that point the whole “how can you have a liar in your cabinet?” argument comes into play, and the post-referendum reconciliation reshuffle goes down the Swanee. | Second, he sounded as if he wanted to accuse Boris Johnson and Michael Gove of lying but could not quite bring himself to do so. This is understandable; “lying” (which means saying something knowing it to be untrue, not just saying something in error) is a strong word which gets used to readily about politicians, most of whom are quite careful not to cross the line that separates the wilfully misleading from the outright fib. This explains why Cameron gave the answer he did about how Gove and Johnson were perhaps making false statements about EU budget matters because they did not understand the detail because they had not been involved in the discussions. (See 11.36am.) ... No, I don’t buy it either. Cameron ended up sounding just a tad naive. If he thinks they’re lying, perhaps it would be best to say so. But, of course, he can’t do that either, because at that point the whole “how can you have a liar in your cabinet?” argument comes into play, and the post-referendum reconciliation reshuffle goes down the Swanee. |
| And, third, it it probably too late now for Cameron to win the trust argument. Yesterday polling figures came out confirming that Johnson is far more trusted on EU matters than Cameron. As I wrote yesterday, this is not easy to understand, to put it politely. New YouGov polling out today (pdf) highlights the problem in more detail. Asked about the leave campaign, 22% said it had been mostly honest, and 42% said it had been mostly dishonest, giving it a net honesty score of -20. Asked about the remain campaign, 19% said it has been mostly honest, and 46% said it has been mostly dishonest, giving it a net honesty score of -27. This is in spite of the fact that the leave campaign battlebus highlights a flagship claim about the cost of the EU that has been denounced as plain wrong by every expert body that has looked at it. Politicians sometimes take the view that the voters are always right, but in this case that argument is hard to sustain. | And, third, it it probably too late now for Cameron to win the trust argument. Yesterday polling figures came out confirming that Johnson is far more trusted on EU matters than Cameron. As I wrote yesterday, this is not easy to understand, to put it politely. New YouGov polling out today (pdf) highlights the problem in more detail. Asked about the leave campaign, 22% said it had been mostly honest, and 42% said it had been mostly dishonest, giving it a net honesty score of -20. Asked about the remain campaign, 19% said it has been mostly honest, and 46% said it has been mostly dishonest, giving it a net honesty score of -27. This is in spite of the fact that the leave campaign battlebus highlights a flagship claim about the cost of the EU that has been denounced as plain wrong by every expert body that has looked at it. Politicians sometimes take the view that the voters are always right, but in this case that argument is hard to sustain. |
| Cameron’s problem is that a large chunk of his credibility has been washed away by the angry, popular anti-elitism that is churning through not just Britain but the rest of the western world. | Cameron’s problem is that a large chunk of his credibility has been washed away by the angry, popular anti-elitism that is churning through not just Britain but the rest of the western world. |
| If he wants to persuade people that his campaign is more honest than the leave camp, he’s going to have to find someone else to make the case. Someone of impeccable integrity. Perhaps the archbishop of Canterbury is free one morning over the next fortnight? | If he wants to persuade people that his campaign is more honest than the leave camp, he’s going to have to find someone else to make the case. Someone of impeccable integrity. Perhaps the archbishop of Canterbury is free one morning over the next fortnight? |
| Still, Cameron did leave journalists with the impression that the remain camp is in a bit a panic. With remain needing to mobilise its supporters (because leave’s are already more motivated), there is an advantage in getting that message out. | Still, Cameron did leave journalists with the impression that the remain camp is in a bit a panic. With remain needing to mobilise its supporters (because leave’s are already more motivated), there is an advantage in getting that message out. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.59pm BST | at 1.59pm BST |
| 11.36am BST | 11.36am BST |
| 11:36 | 11:36 |
| Cameron declines to say that his opponents are deliberately lying | Cameron declines to say that his opponents are deliberately lying |
| Q: [From Sky’s Faisal Islam] If your colleagues are lying, how can they be fit to be in your cabinet? | Q: [From Sky’s Faisal Islam] If your colleagues are lying, how can they be fit to be in your cabinet? |
| Cameron says they are making points about EU policy. They have not been as involved in EU policy as he has been. He knows the reality, because he has been taking these decisions. | Cameron says they are making points about EU policy. They have not been as involved in EU policy as he has been. He knows the reality, because he has been taking these decisions. |
| He says at times the EU drives him crazy. | He says at times the EU drives him crazy. |
| He says it is not for him to say why his opponents are making these errors. | He says it is not for him to say why his opponents are making these errors. |
| And that’s it. | And that’s it. |
| The press conference is over. | The press conference is over. |
| 11.31am BST | 11.31am BST |
| 11:31 | 11:31 |
| Q: You are accusing your colleagues of lying to the public. Are you worried you are losing? | Q: You are accusing your colleagues of lying to the public. Are you worried you are losing? |
| Cameron says people are being told things that are not correct. He has called a press conference to correct that. | Cameron says people are being told things that are not correct. He has called a press conference to correct that. |
| We must make a decision based on facts, he says. | We must make a decision based on facts, he says. |
| He says he would not want people to go to the polling station without knowing the facts. | He says he would not want people to go to the polling station without knowing the facts. |
| 11.30am BST | 11.30am BST |
| 11:30 | 11:30 |
| Q: The momentum seems to be with leave. | Q: The momentum seems to be with leave. |
| Cameron says he is looking forward to his ITV appearance tonight. He was watching the news last night and was struck by the contrast between the weight of expert opinion, and the series of assertion from the leave campaign “that simply aren’t right”. | Cameron says he is looking forward to his ITV appearance tonight. He was watching the news last night and was struck by the contrast between the weight of expert opinion, and the series of assertion from the leave campaign “that simply aren’t right”. |
| He says he felt it was important to say to people they should not leave the EU on the basis of false information. | He says he felt it was important to say to people they should not leave the EU on the basis of false information. |
| He says he wanted to call out the leave campaign. They are making assertions that are not correct. | He says he wanted to call out the leave campaign. They are making assertions that are not correct. |
| If it was just one body warning about the impact of the economy, people might say, ‘Let’s take a risk.’ | If it was just one body warning about the impact of the economy, people might say, ‘Let’s take a risk.’ |
| But there are so many bodies warning of the risks that they cannot be ignored. | But there are so many bodies warning of the risks that they cannot be ignored. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.53pm BST | at 1.53pm BST |
| 11.25am BST | 11.25am BST |
| 11:25 | 11:25 |
| Cameron accuses Vote Leave of telling six 'complete untruths' | Cameron accuses Vote Leave of telling six 'complete untruths' |
| Cameron says, from those who want us to lead, we have just heard “complacency and nonchalance”. | Cameron says, from those who want us to lead, we have just heard “complacency and nonchalance”. |
| He says they have said we have had enough of experts. (He is referring to what Michael Gove said yesterday.) Would you build a bridge without advice from an expert? | He says they have said we have had enough of experts. (He is referring to what Michael Gove said yesterday.) Would you build a bridge without advice from an expert? |
| He says leave campaigners have told six “complete untruths” recently. | He says leave campaigners have told six “complete untruths” recently. |
| First, they said the UK would be liable for future eurozone bailouts. Not true, he says. | First, they said the UK would be liable for future eurozone bailouts. Not true, he says. |
| Second, they said the UK rebate was at risk. Not true, he says. | Second, they said the UK rebate was at risk. Not true, he says. |
| Third, they said the UK would lose its ability to veto future EU treaties. Not true, he says. | Third, they said the UK would lose its ability to veto future EU treaties. Not true, he says. |
| Fourth, they said the UK could not stop the EU budget going up. Not true, he says. | Fourth, they said the UK could not stop the EU budget going up. Not true, he says. |
| Fifth, they said the UK could not veto an EU army. Not true, he says. | Fifth, they said the UK could not veto an EU army. Not true, he says. |
| And, sixth, they said leaving the EU would free up £8bn for spending on other things. Not true, he says. He says the IFS said that yesterday. | And, sixth, they said leaving the EU would free up £8bn for spending on other things. Not true, he says. He says the IFS said that yesterday. |
| He says the leave campaign need to be called out on the “nonsense they are peddling”. | He says the leave campaign need to be called out on the “nonsense they are peddling”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.52pm BST | at 1.52pm BST |
| 11.19am BST | 11.19am BST |
| 11:19 | 11:19 |
| David Cameron's press conference | David Cameron's press conference |
| David Cameron is starting with a statement. | David Cameron is starting with a statement. |
| He mentions the intervention from the Hitachi boss. (See 8.42am.) He quotes from Hiroaki Nakanishi’s article and he says jobs would be at risk. | He mentions the intervention from the Hitachi boss. (See 8.42am.) He quotes from Hiroaki Nakanishi’s article and he says jobs would be at risk. |
| And he quotes from what the head of the WTO said in a Reuters inteview yesterday about how leaving the EU would be a “high risk bet”. | And he quotes from what the head of the WTO said in a Reuters inteview yesterday about how leaving the EU would be a “high risk bet”. |
| Cameron says these interventions are “an economic reality check”. | Cameron says these interventions are “an economic reality check”. |
| 11.15am BST | 11.15am BST |
| 11:15 | 11:15 |
| David Cameron is keeping the journalists waiting in the sunshine – which is not a good idea. | David Cameron is keeping the journalists waiting in the sunshine – which is not a good idea. |
| Press corps beginning to wilt waiting for PM in blazing sunshine #factor500 #swelter #redfaces pic.twitter.com/zMvbXgvmKV | Press corps beginning to wilt waiting for PM in blazing sunshine #factor500 #swelter #redfaces pic.twitter.com/zMvbXgvmKV |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.51pm BST | at 1.51pm BST |