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EU referendum live: Nigel Farage and Bob Geldof clash in rival Thames boats EU referendum live: Nigel Farage and Bob Geldof clash in rival Thames boats
(35 minutes later)
3.29pm BST
15:29
Idris Elba is backing Remain.
My parents immigrated to the UK, worked hard and made a contribution..ME...on that basis VOTE IN....#EUDebate 👊🏾💯 https://t.co/MpGd1yAW3g
3.24pm BST
15:24
The Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (TUSC), the leftwing group backing Brexit, has put out a statement saying if necessary Labour MPs should vote against the post-Brexit budget measures George Osborne is proposing. In a statement Dave Nellist, the former Labour MP who chairs TUSC, said there would be no point leaving the EU only to carry on with austerity.
Ultimately, Brexit on a capitalist basis will produce broadly the same results as Remain on a capitalist basis – continued austerity, attacks on wages and living standards, cuts and privatisation of public services.
That’s why TUSC stands for an economy based on democratic public ownership of the major companies and banks (see http://www.tusc.org.uk/policy), a vision of a democratic socialist society rooted in Labour’s old ‘Clause Four’.
We stand in solidarity with those Labour politicians who fight for a similar position, in or out of the EU.
But TUSC supports a leave vote, firstly because the EU creates an extra layer of legal obstacles to the labour and trade union movement – against workers’ rights and socialist measures generally – and secondly because the referendum gives us a chance to strike a blow at the Tories and the whole capitalist establishment.
3.15pm BST
15:15
6 former disability ministers say staying in EU best for disability rights
Six former disability ministers - three Tory, three Labour - have united to sign a joint letter to the Guardian saying that the rights of disabled people are “best protected and advanced by the UK’s continued membership of the European Union”. The list is headed by William Hague, who took the landmark Disability Discrimination Act 1995, through parliament, and it includes Alistair Burt, who is currently a health minister. The others are Dame Margaret Hodge, Maria Miller, Maria Eagle and Dame Anne McGuire.
Here is an extract.
All of our governments have striven to close the disability employment gap. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 inspired the European Union to adopt EU-wide measures to tackle workplace discrimination against disabled people. In turn, the EU has helped improve our law, ensuring that it covers all employers irrespective of size and offers protection to those associated with a disabled person, particularly helping Britain’s six million carers. Between 2010-14 EU money also supported over 430,000 disabled people –235 disabled people every day - to take steps to move towards paid work.
The single market continues to play a vital role in opening up the world to disabled people, building on the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 by pushing the frontiers of accessible travel, products, services and the Internet. It doesn’t make financial or practical sense for the UK to progress these areas in isolation. For example, there would have been little advantage in the UK legislating to demand assistance for disabled people when travelling by air, if this meant people being able to board a plane in Manchester, yet unable to disembark in Malaga. EU-wide measures enable disabled people to travel on business or holiday with much greater confidence.
3.05pm BST
15:05
Alice Ross
Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson has said that Brexit would be “even worse than Tory government” and pleaded with voters not to vote Leave because they wanted to “give David Cameron a bloody nose”.
In a speech to Labour activists in Kings Cross, London, Watson said: “Please don’t vote Leave to spite David Cameron and end up blighting the country instead.”
He acknowledged that Labour’s position on the referendum remains unclear to many supporters, even though the campaign has brought together figures from all over the party, creating some unlikely pairings - he named Jeremy Corbyn and Tony Blair, and Len McCluskey and Peter Mandelson.
He argued that the resentment of immigration that has surfaced among many traditional Labour voters is misplaced, laying the blame instead at the door of the Tory deregulation of labour markets in the 1980s.
Previous generations of immigrants had not affected wages, but the reforms to labour laws had led to a “race to the bottom”. “This has been going on long before Polish plumbers and Spanish care workers came along,” he said.
2.27pm BST2.27pm BST
14:2714:27
Farage denies claim he's been offered a job in a Boris Johnson governmentFarage denies claim he's been offered a job in a Boris Johnson government
Channel 4 News’s Michael Crick has picked up an intriguing rumour.Channel 4 News’s Michael Crick has picked up an intriguing rumour.
Farage friend says he's been approached by Boris camp about job in Johnson govt & place in Lords to avoid fighting possible Thanet by-electFarage friend says he's been approached by Boris camp about job in Johnson govt & place in Lords to avoid fighting possible Thanet by-elect
@MichaelLCrick Farage denies he's been approached by Boris camp about job in Govt, but repeatedly refuses to deny he'd take such a job@MichaelLCrick Farage denies he's been approached by Boris camp about job in Govt, but repeatedly refuses to deny he'd take such a job
2.24pm BST2.24pm BST
14:2414:24
Lunchtime summaryLunchtime summary
This budget takes the mid-point of the IFS’s estimates, £30 billion, as the likely deterioration in the public finances and shows the types of trade-offs involved in dealing with such a deficit in 2019-20.This budget takes the mid-point of the IFS’s estimates, £30 billion, as the likely deterioration in the public finances and shows the types of trade-offs involved in dealing with such a deficit in 2019-20.
One plausible scenario shows that:One plausible scenario shows that:
Health spending would be cut by ÂŁ2.5 billion, defence spending by ÂŁ1.2 billion and education spending by a similar amountHealth spending would be cut by ÂŁ2.5 billion, defence spending by ÂŁ1.2 billion and education spending by a similar amount
The basic rate of income tax would rise by 2 pence to 22p and the higher rate by 3 pence to 43pThe basic rate of income tax would rise by 2 pence to 22p and the higher rate by 3 pence to 43p
Capital spending would be reduced by ÂŁ2.4 billion Fuel and alcohol duties would increase by 5%Capital spending would be reduced by ÂŁ2.4 billion Fuel and alcohol duties would increase by 5%
The balance between tax and spend would be up to the government at the time.The balance between tax and spend would be up to the government at the time.
Ironically, Osborne’s forecasts are far bleaker than the ones the Labour party produced on Friday last week when it published its own version of what a dire, post-Brexit Tory budget might look like. Unveiling the document at an event with Alistair Darling, Labour chancellor at the time of the financial crash, Osborne said: Ironically, Osborne’s forecasts are bleaker than the ones the Labour party produced on Friday last week when it published its own version of what a dire, post-Brexit Tory budget might look like. Unveiling the document at an event with Alistair Darling, Labour chancellor at the time of the financial crash, Osborne said:
We have both been chancellor as the economy has faced very difficult times. We know what happens when we lose control of the economy.We have both been chancellor as the economy has faced very difficult times. We know what happens when we lose control of the economy.
We both had to deal with the consequences of the public finances collapsing and the difficult decisions we then had to make.We both had to deal with the consequences of the public finances collapsing and the difficult decisions we then had to make.
But 57 pro-Brexit Tory MPs have signed an open letter saying they would refuse to pass the measures Osborne is proposing. This suggests he would not be able to pass a budget like this in the event of Britain voting to leave the EU. More importantly, it also suggests that Osborne may find it impossible to carry on as chancellor even in the event of Remain winning because his standing with some Tory MPs has been so badly damaged. One theory is that, if Leave win, the demotion of Osborne could be the price Tory Brexiteers demand for allowing David Cameron to continue as prime minister. But 57 pro-Brexit Tory MPs have signed an open letter saying they would refuse to pass the measures Osborne is proposing. (See 8.29am.) This suggests he would not be able to pass a budget like this in the event of Britain voting to leave the EU. More importantly, it also suggests that Osborne may find it impossible to carry on as chancellor even in the event of Remain winning because his standing with some Tory MPs has been so badly damaged. One theory is that, if Leave win, the demotion of Osborne could be the price Tory Brexiteers demand for allowing David Cameron to continue as prime minister.
Will you take this opportunity to condemn the opportunism of 57 of your colleagues who are pro-Leave - these are members who backed the bedroom tax, backed cutting disability benefits and slashing care for the elderly - who suddenly have now had a Damascene conversion to the anti-austerity movement? Do you have any message for them? Do you have any message for them at all?Will you take this opportunity to condemn the opportunism of 57 of your colleagues who are pro-Leave - these are members who backed the bedroom tax, backed cutting disability benefits and slashing care for the elderly - who suddenly have now had a Damascene conversion to the anti-austerity movement? Do you have any message for them? Do you have any message for them at all?
Cameron replied:Cameron replied:
Nobody wants to have an emergency budget, nobody wants to have cuts in public services, nobody wants to have tax increases. But I would say this - there’s only one thing worse than not addressing a crisis in your public finances, addressing it through a Budget, and that is ignoring it. Because if you ignore a crisis in your public finances, you see your economy go into a tailspin, you see confidence in your country reduced. We can avoid all of this by voting Remain next week. Nobody wants to have an emergency budget, nobody wants to have cuts in public services, nobody wants to have tax increases. But I would say this - there’s only one thing worse than not addressing a crisis in your public finances, addressing it through a budget, and that is ignoring it. Because if you ignore a crisis in your public finances, you see your economy go into a tailspin, you see confidence in your country reduced. We can avoid all of this by voting Remain next week.
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.53pm BST at 2.58pm BST
2.04pm BST2.04pm BST
14:0414:04
Henry McDonaldHenry McDonald
Irish rugby international Rory Best has come out for the Remain side in the EU referendum.The Ulster player has sent a tweet from Ireland’s tour of South Africa supporting an In vote.Irish rugby international Rory Best has come out for the Remain side in the EU referendum.The Ulster player has sent a tweet from Ireland’s tour of South Africa supporting an In vote.
After the Irish victory over the Springboks, Best tweeted from Cape Town: “Thursday 23rd June is an important date for farmers&the agrifood sector. Support them by voting to stay in EU.”After the Irish victory over the Springboks, Best tweeted from Cape Town: “Thursday 23rd June is an important date for farmers&the agrifood sector. Support them by voting to stay in EU.”
Best’s backing of the In campaigns come on the back of Northern Ireland’s biggest employer, the chicken producer, has also called for an In vote.Best’s backing of the In campaigns come on the back of Northern Ireland’s biggest employer, the chicken producer, has also called for an In vote.
Moy Park’s chief executive Janet McCollum said: “We are a European business and Europe is our market. Any move way from the free market could increase tariffs, add administrative burdens and limit export opportunities.”Moy Park’s chief executive Janet McCollum said: “We are a European business and Europe is our market. Any move way from the free market could increase tariffs, add administrative burdens and limit export opportunities.”
1.46pm BST1.46pm BST
13:4613:46
Here is a Guardian video of PMQs highlights.Here is a Guardian video of PMQs highlights.
1.36pm BST1.36pm BST
13:3613:36
Britain Stronger in Europe have now sent out a link to the Brexit budget document published by George Osborne and Alistair Darling earlier.Britain Stronger in Europe have now sent out a link to the Brexit budget document published by George Osborne and Alistair Darling earlier.
1.29pm BST1.29pm BST
13:2913:29
Severin CarrellSeverin Carrell
The flotilla arrived at Tower Bridge as Greenpeace attacked one of the largest trawlers in the protest, the Christina S from Peterhead, over its role in a ÂŁ63m fisheries fraud scandal four years ago, the worst yet involving the UK fisheries industry.The flotilla arrived at Tower Bridge as Greenpeace attacked one of the largest trawlers in the protest, the Christina S from Peterhead, over its role in a ÂŁ63m fisheries fraud scandal four years ago, the worst yet involving the UK fisheries industry.
The joint skippers of the vessel, Ernest Simpson and his son Allan Simpson, were each fined ÂŁ65,000 and had a total of ÂŁ725,000 confiscated by Scottish courts in September 2012 after they admitted illegally landing mackerel and herring in Peterhead and Shetland.The joint skippers of the vessel, Ernest Simpson and his son Allan Simpson, were each fined ÂŁ65,000 and had a total of ÂŁ725,000 confiscated by Scottish courts in September 2012 after they admitted illegally landing mackerel and herring in Peterhead and Shetland.
Earnest Simpson pled guilty to landing more than ÂŁ2m worth of undeclared fish while his son Allan admitted to more than ÂŁ2.7m in undeclared fish, in a scandal involving dozens of Scottish skippers and several major processing factories.Earnest Simpson pled guilty to landing more than ÂŁ2m worth of undeclared fish while his son Allan admitted to more than ÂŁ2.7m in undeclared fish, in a scandal involving dozens of Scottish skippers and several major processing factories.
John Sauven, the executive director of Greenpeace UK, said that it was “an unfortunate choice” to have the Christina S as one of the “showstopper” boats on the protest.John Sauven, the executive director of Greenpeace UK, said that it was “an unfortunate choice” to have the Christina S as one of the “showstopper” boats on the protest.
It was co-owned by one of the fisheries giants referred to by Jeremy Corbyn at prime ministers questions, Andrew Marr International, which controls 12% of the English fishing quota, with the Marr family worth ÂŁ122m.It was co-owned by one of the fisheries giants referred to by Jeremy Corbyn at prime ministers questions, Andrew Marr International, which controls 12% of the English fishing quota, with the Marr family worth ÂŁ122m.
1.28pm BST1.28pm BST
13:2813:28
Here’s some video footage from the battle of the Thames.Here’s some video footage from the battle of the Thames.
1.24pm BST1.24pm BST
13:2413:24
Severin CarrellSeverin Carrell
Pro-Brexit campaigners in Scotland, led by the former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars and ex-Tory MSP Brian Monteith, have claimed the country would have far more “democratic sovereignty” and money outside the EU.Pro-Brexit campaigners in Scotland, led by the former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars and ex-Tory MSP Brian Monteith, have claimed the country would have far more “democratic sovereignty” and money outside the EU.
They released a pamphlet through the Leave.eu campaign headed by Nigel Farage just as an Ipsos Mori poll for STV found the gap between the in and out vote in Scotland had narrowed sharply, by 13 points over the last six weeks.They released a pamphlet through the Leave.eu campaign headed by Nigel Farage just as an Ipsos Mori poll for STV found the gap between the in and out vote in Scotland had narrowed sharply, by 13 points over the last six weeks.
The STV poll still gave the remain vote in Scotland a clear lead of 58% against 33% for leave, with 8% undecided. It confirmed the trend in favour of Brexit at UK level: in April, Ipsos put remain at 66% and leave at 29%. That implies the prospect of a massive pro-EU vote from Scotland helping remain win at UK level is receding.The STV poll still gave the remain vote in Scotland a clear lead of 58% against 33% for leave, with 8% undecided. It confirmed the trend in favour of Brexit at UK level: in April, Ipsos put remain at 66% and leave at 29%. That implies the prospect of a massive pro-EU vote from Scotland helping remain win at UK level is receding.
The Monteith and Sillars paper, “Democratic, Prosperous and Free”, openly targets Scottish nationalists – about a third of whom back a leave vote - and Scottish devolutionists by claiming Brexit would allow Holyrood far greater autonomy within the UK because it already significant powers over domestic policy.The Monteith and Sillars paper, “Democratic, Prosperous and Free”, openly targets Scottish nationalists – about a third of whom back a leave vote - and Scottish devolutionists by claiming Brexit would allow Holyrood far greater autonomy within the UK because it already significant powers over domestic policy.
“We can make decision-making more democratic and accountable by taking control back from Brussels and giving it to the Scottish electorate. For instance, it will mean the powers to manage farming and fisheries coming to the Scottish parliament – why would Scottish politicians wish to be against that?” Monteith said.“We can make decision-making more democratic and accountable by taking control back from Brussels and giving it to the Scottish electorate. For instance, it will mean the powers to manage farming and fisheries coming to the Scottish parliament – why would Scottish politicians wish to be against that?” Monteith said.
1.17pm BST1.17pm BST
13:1713:17
Here are some more pictures from the flotilla.Here are some more pictures from the flotilla.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.26pm BSTat 1.26pm BST
1.10pm BST
13:10
On the waves outside parliament, fishermen claim they have boarded Geldof’s boat “to tell him the truth”. A police boat is alongside but the pro-Brexit fishing vessel Wayward Lad has pulled up to Geldof’s pleasure cruiser.
Parliamentarians are looking on from the terrace, three helicopters, including police hovering above.
1.10pm BST
13:10
Nigel Farage has attacked Bob Geldof’s aquatic intervention as “ignorant” and “insulting”.
“He doesn’t know anything about the common fisheries policy,” he told the Guardian. “You can’t reform it from within. You can’t change it. There is nothing you can do apart from leave.”
Asked about the barrage of noise, he said: “It’s just insulting to these people. Some of these lads have come from the north of Scotland, communities that have never been listened to where we have seen tens of thousands of jobs lost and a way of life destroyed and they come here to make their protest and be heard and they get a multi-millionaire laughing at them. Horrible disgusting.”
Geldof wasn’t in fact laughing at the fishermen. He addressed Farage’s boat before it reached the fishing flotilla.
Geldof said: “Here are the facts about fishing. Britain makes more money than any other country in Europe from fishing. Two. Britain has the second largest quota for fishing in Europe after Denmark. Three. Britain has the third largest landings. Fourth, you are no fisherman’s friend.”
1.07pm BST
13:07
Angus Robertson's questions
Angus Robertson, the SNP leader, gets two questions at PMQs, but they were left out in my minute by minute coverage because I was doing the snap summary. So here they are.
Robertson started by asking about the referendum.
Does the prime minister agree with me if we want to protect jobs, if we want to protect public services, we must remain in the European Union?
Cameron did agree.
I do believe the most important argument is about the future of our economy and it seems obvious to me today we have full access to a market of 500m people, for an economy like Scotland which is such a big exporting economy, there’s no way we would get a better deal outside that market than on the inside.
Robertson then asked about the impact of Brexit on public services. Cameron replied:
Decisions to cut public spending in the UK budget do have an impact, through Barnett, on Scotland. To anyone who says these warnings could be wrong or inaccurate - there were warnings about the oil price before the Scottish referendum, it turned out actually to be worse than the experts warned.
12.41pm BST
12:41
Christopher Chope, a Conservative, says he is looking forward to the UK voting for Brexit, so that he can vote against Osborne’s vindictive budget.
Cameron says he hopes people will vote to remain in the EU.
And that’s it.
(Good to see John Bercow’s campaign to extend PMQs by 10 minutes so it last for 40 minutes is going well.)
12.39pm BST
12:39
Asked about the North Middlesex A&E unit, Cameron says the health secretary is monitoring this closely. But if we stay in the EU, there will be more money for the NHS.
12.38pm BST
12:38
Nigel Adams, a Conserative, says there has been “hysterical scaremongering” during the EU referendum. Will Cameron assure people he will follow the results on the referendum.
Yes, says Cameron. He says out means out of the single market too. He says he would say to anyone still in doubt, to anyone uncertain, don’t risk it.
12.37pm BST
12:37
Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, says the wealthy elite fuelling Leave will not be harmed by the interest rate rise that will follow Brexit. Would Cameron advise his Tory colleagues that there is a long-term economic plan on offer on Thursday - voting remain.
Cameron says it says volumes about the Remain campaign that the Lib Dems, Labour, the Greens and others are joining him in backing staying in the EU.
12.35pm BST
12:35
Jack Lopresti, a Conservative, says he hopes Britain will vote to leave the EU. Cameron himself said Britain could survive outside, he says.
Cameron says of course Britain can survive outside the EU. But the question is, how are we best off? On all the arguments, we are best off in, he says.
12.34pm BST
12:34
Siobhain McDonagh, the Labour MP, says M&S workers are due to face an effective pay cut because of the “national living wage”.
Cameron says he does not know about the situation at M&S. But he wants to see pay go up, not down. M&S won’t attract good staff if they cut pay.
12.32pm BST
12:32
Cameron says we will enhance the power of Britain by staying in the EU.