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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jun/07/eu-referendum-live-farage-cameron-itv-debate-foreign-criminals
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| EU referendum live: Archbishop accuses Farage of racism and 'accentuating fear for political gain' | EU referendum live: Archbishop accuses Farage of racism and 'accentuating fear for political gain' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.27pm BST | |
| 17:27 | |
| Afternoon summary | |
| Over decades we’ve played a leading role in shaping an energy strategy for the EU that has given businesses the confidence to invest. A vote to leave is a leap into the unknown and this would threaten investment. The resulting loss of jobs and pay would be a tragedy. | |
| That’s all from me for now. | |
| I will be launching a new blog later to cover the Nigel Farage/David Cameron EU referendum “debate” on ITV. The programme starts at 9pm, and I will launch the blog at around 8pm. You’ll find it here. | |
| 5.04pm BST | 5.04pm BST |
| 17:04 | 17:04 |
| Here is a short polling reading list. | Here is a short polling reading list. |
| The Brexit camp should enjoy its current slight bounce in the polls, for it may not last. If history is any guide, then “remain” is still heading for victory on June 23. Past referendums in Britain have tended to produce a late move to the status quo. The record from six such contests in the past four decades is striking. | The Brexit camp should enjoy its current slight bounce in the polls, for it may not last. If history is any guide, then “remain” is still heading for victory on June 23. Past referendums in Britain have tended to produce a late move to the status quo. The record from six such contests in the past four decades is striking. |
| In other words, Leave would need to be leading by more than 4 points at this stage to be considered favourite by the model. ICM’s online poll shows a 5-point lead for Brexit, but others don’t. ORB’s latestphone poll for the Telegraph had the Remainers 12 points ahead on its “all adults” measure, which suggests that the phone vs online gap hasn’t gone away. (As ORB has now clarified that this is it’s headline measure, the polling average and forecast will be using it instead of the “certain voter” measure, though the impact will be small). | In other words, Leave would need to be leading by more than 4 points at this stage to be considered favourite by the model. ICM’s online poll shows a 5-point lead for Brexit, but others don’t. ORB’s latestphone poll for the Telegraph had the Remainers 12 points ahead on its “all adults” measure, which suggests that the phone vs online gap hasn’t gone away. (As ORB has now clarified that this is it’s headline measure, the polling average and forecast will be using it instead of the “certain voter” measure, though the impact will be small). |
| Last night’s YouGov/Times poll, the most recent available, showed Remain back in a (statistically insignificant) one-point lead. But what is significant is that a poll that had swung to Leave when the debates where taking place is now right back where it was before – suggesting either a response bias or a genuine but temporary shift in public opinion. | Last night’s YouGov/Times poll, the most recent available, showed Remain back in a (statistically insignificant) one-point lead. But what is significant is that a poll that had swung to Leave when the debates where taking place is now right back where it was before – suggesting either a response bias or a genuine but temporary shift in public opinion. |
| In any case, the picture painted by the various polls and analysis of likely accuracy, it’s much more likely that Remain is still ahead. | In any case, the picture painted by the various polls and analysis of likely accuracy, it’s much more likely that Remain is still ahead. |
| 5.00pm BST | 5.00pm BST |
| 17:00 | 17:00 |
| Here is Stefan Rousseau, the Press Association’s chief political photographer’s, picture of the day. | Here is Stefan Rousseau, the Press Association’s chief political photographer’s, picture of the day. |
| Photo du Jour: Boris Johnson is interviewed by the media in Ipswich during Vote Leave visit. By Stefan Rousseau/PA pic.twitter.com/WhY6KVSF0l | Photo du Jour: Boris Johnson is interviewed by the media in Ipswich during Vote Leave visit. By Stefan Rousseau/PA pic.twitter.com/WhY6KVSF0l |
| 4.48pm BST | 4.48pm BST |
| 16:48 | 16:48 |
| Earlier I quoted some of the non-headline findings in the latest YouGov EU referendum poll (pdf). (See 12.26pm.) Here are some more that are interesting. | Earlier I quoted some of the non-headline findings in the latest YouGov EU referendum poll (pdf). (See 12.26pm.) Here are some more that are interesting. |
| Good news for remain | Good news for remain |
| 1 - People think they would be worse off if we left the EU – and the gap has got larger since the question was last asked in April. | 1 - People think they would be worse off if we left the EU – and the gap has got larger since the question was last asked in April. |
| Better off: 22% (no change) | Better off: 22% (no change) |
| Worse off: 37% (up 3) | Worse off: 37% (up 3) |
| 2 - People think leaving the EU would be bad for jobs – and, again, the gap is getting bigger. | 2 - People think leaving the EU would be bad for jobs – and, again, the gap is getting bigger. |
| Good for jobs: 21% (down 1) | Good for jobs: 21% (down 1) |
| Bad for jobs: 35% (up 2) | Bad for jobs: 35% (up 2) |
| 3 - People are more likely to think leaving the EU will leave them worse off personally. | 3 - People are more likely to think leaving the EU will leave them worse off personally. |
| Better off: 10% (no change) | Better off: 10% (no change) |
| Worse off: 23% (no change) | Worse off: 23% (no change) |
| No real difference: 45% (no change) | No real difference: 45% (no change) |
| 4 - By a narrow margin people think having access to the single market, and accepting free movement for EU citizens, is better than having full control of immigration but not having access to the single market. People were asked to choose between two options. | 4 - By a narrow margin people think having access to the single market, and accepting free movement for EU citizens, is better than having full control of immigration but not having access to the single market. People were asked to choose between two options. |
| Full control of immigration, but not having free access to EU trade: 47% | Full control of immigration, but not having free access to EU trade: 47% |
| Having free access to EU trade, but having to allow EU citizens into UK: 53% | Having free access to EU trade, but having to allow EU citizens into UK: 53% |
| Good news for leave | Good news for leave |
| 1 - People think leaving the EU would be good for the NHS – and the gap is getting bigger. | 1 - People think leaving the EU would be good for the NHS – and the gap is getting bigger. |
| Good for NHS: 40% (up 4) | Good for NHS: 40% (up 4) |
| Bad for NHS: 19% (up 2) | Bad for NHS: 19% (up 2) |
| 2 - People think, by a massive margin, leaving the EU would lead to lower immigration. | 2 - People think, by a massive margin, leaving the EU would lead to lower immigration. |
| More immigration: 4% (no change) | More immigration: 4% (no change) |
| Less immigration: 57% (down 1) | Less immigration: 57% (down 1) |
| 3 - People think staying in the EU will lead to immigration being higher than the government predicts. YouGov told respondents the ONS expects immigration to be 185,000 a year from 2021 onwards. Many people think it will be higher. | 3 - People think staying in the EU will lead to immigration being higher than the government predicts. YouGov told respondents the ONS expects immigration to be 185,000 a year from 2021 onwards. Many people think it will be higher. |
| Higher than 185,000: 49% (up 10) | Higher than 185,000: 49% (up 10) |
| Lower than 185,000: 10% (down 4) | Lower than 185,000: 10% (down 4) |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.09pm BST | at 5.09pm BST |
| 4.19pm BST | 4.19pm BST |
| 16:19 | 16:19 |
| At his press conference this morning David Cameron said the EU has been faster at signing trade deals than the US. | At his press conference this morning David Cameron said the EU has been faster at signing trade deals than the US. |
| PM: Europe has been faster at signing trade deals than the US #StrongerIn | PM: Europe has been faster at signing trade deals than the US #StrongerIn |
| The Conservative MP David Davis says he’s wrong. He said in a statement: | The Conservative MP David Davis says he’s wrong. He said in a statement: |
| It is simply not acceptable for the prime minister to give a press conference claiming that the leave campaign are being free with the facts, only to then run fast and loose with the truth himself. | It is simply not acceptable for the prime minister to give a press conference claiming that the leave campaign are being free with the facts, only to then run fast and loose with the truth himself. |
| The EU is appallingly slow at signing free trade deals. It takes the EU on average six years to negotiate a new trade deal, according to the remain campaign. It takes the US on average four years. | The EU is appallingly slow at signing free trade deals. It takes the EU on average six years to negotiate a new trade deal, according to the remain campaign. It takes the US on average four years. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.07pm BST | at 5.07pm BST |
| 3.57pm BST | 3.57pm BST |
| 15:57 | 15:57 |
| Gisela Stuart, one of the few Labour MPs backing Brexit and the chair of Vote Leave, has put out a statement criticising the pro-EU poster unveiled by her party this morning. She said: | Gisela Stuart, one of the few Labour MPs backing Brexit and the chair of Vote Leave, has put out a statement criticising the pro-EU poster 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 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. | 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. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.56pm BST | at 4.56pm BST |
| 3.50pm BST | 3.50pm BST |
| 15:50 | 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 jailed is a threat to the UK. He said: | 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 jailed 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.54pm BST | at 4.54pm BST |
| 3.36pm BST | 3.36pm BST |
| 15:36 | 15:36 |
| Archbishop of Canterbury accuses Farage of racism and 'accentuating fear for political gain' | 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.) | 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. | 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: | 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 would agree with you. |
| I think that is an inexcusable pandering to people’s worries and prejudices. | 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. | 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. | 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. | What that is is accentuating fear for political gain and that is absolutely inexcusable. |
| Welby also said he condemned the comments “without hesitation”. | Welby also said he condemned the comments “without hesitation”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.50pm BST | at 4.50pm 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 a debate with 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 a debate with 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 jail. | 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 jail. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.48pm BST | at 4.48pm BST |
| 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. | 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. | 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”. | 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 | Updated |
| at 3.28pm BST | 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 |