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EU referendum: Leave and Remain clash in BBC Great Debate EU referendum: Leave and Remain clash in BBC Great Debate
(about 1 hour later)
The biggest live debate of the UK's EU referendum campaign is taking place before 6,000 people at Wembley Arena. The EU referendum took centre stage at Wembley Arena as the two sides traded blows before an audience of 6,000 people.
Rival sides of the debate are facing questions on the economy, immigration and Britain's place in the world. The BBC's Great Debate featured almost two hours of questions on immigration, the economy and sovereignty.
The BBC's Great Debate represents a final chance for the two sides to get their points across on primetime TV before polls open on Thursday. During the often spiky exchanges, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson repeatedly clashed with Boris Johnson and accused his Leave side of "lying".
Panellists include Boris Johnson, for Leave, and his successor as London Mayor Sadiq Khan, for Remain. Mr Johnson said Remain "keep talking down our country".
The debate, hosted by David Dimbleby, Mishal Husain and Emily Maitlis, is live on BBC One. The former London mayor got a standing ovation from his supporters after his closing statement, in which he declared: "Thursday can be our country's independence day" if Britain votes to leave.
Questions have been grouped into three categories: The economy, immigration and Britain's place in the world, and the audience has been split into Leave and Remain sides. Ms Davidson, who gave the closing statement for Remain, told the Wembley audience they had to be "100% sure" adding that there was "no going back on Friday morning".
The Leave campaign is represented by Mr Johnson, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and energy minister Andrea Leadsom, and for Remain the lineup is Mr Khan, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, and Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress. Her side "refused to dismiss the experts" who all agree that "Britain is better-off in," she argued.
The BBC's Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg said Leave side had the most "emotional enthusiasm" but Remain were able to display the passion some feel has been missing from their campaign.
New faces - to many people at least - Ruth Davidson and Sadiq Khan worked together to make arguments for the EU rather than excuses for it, she added.
The debate, the biggest of the EU referendum campaign, represented a final chance for the two campaigns to get their points across ahead of Thursday's poll.
There were heated exchanges throughout between Mr Johnson and his Remain-backing successor as London mayor, Sadiq Khan, who accused Leave of running "project hate".
The lively audience - split between Leave and Remain supporters - applauded each time their side landed a blow as subjects including Turkish EU membership, trade deals and the power of EU courts were debated.
Also on the panel for Leave were Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom, who attacked the Brussels "gravy train", and Labour MP Gisela Stuart, with Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, completing the line-up for Remain.
The first skirmishes were on trade and the economy, with Conservative and Labour party colleagues trading blows.The first skirmishes were on trade and the economy, with Conservative and Labour party colleagues trading blows.
Mr Khan and Mr Johnson clashed as the London mayor accused his predecessor of changing his mind over the benefits of the EU to businesses.Mr Khan and Mr Johnson clashed as the London mayor accused his predecessor of changing his mind over the benefits of the EU to businesses.
Mr Johnson said Remain "keeps talking down our country" and that the EU held back the UK's trading progress with the rest of the world.Mr Johnson said Remain "keeps talking down our country" and that the EU held back the UK's trading progress with the rest of the world.
Responding to the opening question from a small business owner, Ms Davidson said she knew people found the EU "frustrating and fussy", but said it provided "a level playing field" for small businesses. She said if the UK leaves, the rest of the EU would impose tariffs and taxes.Responding to the opening question from a small business owner, Ms Davidson said she knew people found the EU "frustrating and fussy", but said it provided "a level playing field" for small businesses. She said if the UK leaves, the rest of the EU would impose tariffs and taxes.
She read out previous quotes on job losses from key Leave figures including Mr Johnson, who hit back by saying the Remain campaign was "back to Project Fear".She read out previous quotes on job losses from key Leave figures including Mr Johnson, who hit back by saying the Remain campaign was "back to Project Fear".
He said it was "extraordinary" to suggest tariffs would be imposed on the UK, saying Germany would be "insane" to do so.He said it was "extraordinary" to suggest tariffs would be imposed on the UK, saying Germany would be "insane" to do so.
Analysis from Wembley Ms Leadsom, for Leave, said the UK had led the way on workers' rights, not the EU. "We do not need unelected, bureaucratic European leaders to tell us what our workers rights can be."
Chris Mason, BBC political correspondent But Ms O'Grady said EU "red tape" as described by Leave backers really meant "getting rid of workers' rights".
An observer here describes it as "Brexfactor". One of those lines I wish I'd come up with myself. As the debate moved onto immigration, Mr Khan said the Leave side - which has campaigned hard on the subject - had not been "project fear", it had been "project hate".
This event feels quite un BBC-ish: it's big, brash and loud.
A panel of six, supplemented by another panel of ten - and a whopping 6,000 inside the arena. The economy and immigration have, unsurprisingly, dominated.
And, after a campaign regularly featuring so called 'blue on blue' attacks--Tories taking lumps out of each other, tonight there has been 'red on red,' Labour voices on opposite sides, Sadiq Khan and Gisela Stuart, openly arguing.
Responding to a question about workers' rights, Ms Leadsom, for Leave, said the UK had led the way on workers' rights, not the EU. "We do not need unelected, bureaucratic European leaders to tell us what our workers rights can be."
Ms O'Grady said EU "red tape" really meant "getting rid of workers' rights".
As the debate moved onto immigration, Mr Khan said the Leave side - which has campaigned hard on immigration - had not been "project fear", it had been "project hate".
Brandishing a Vote Leave leaflet, he accused the rival side of "lying" and "trying to scare people" by saying Turkey was set to join the EU.Brandishing a Vote Leave leaflet, he accused the rival side of "lying" and "trying to scare people" by saying Turkey was set to join the EU.
"Turkey isn't about to join," he said."Turkey isn't about to join," he said.
Ms Stuart said the UK government was trying to "accelerate" Turkish membership. She also said it was "simply a statement of fact" that uncontrolled immigration put pressure on services. Ms Stuart said the UK government was actively trying to "accelerate" Turkish membership. She also said it was "simply a statement of fact" that uncontrolled immigration put pressure on services.
Also on immigration, a man in the audience asked how many people arriving per year the UK could "reasonably cope with".Also on immigration, a man in the audience asked how many people arriving per year the UK could "reasonably cope with".
Ms O'Grady said it was important to "manage" migration but said she was "fed up" with migrants being blamed for government shortcomings.Ms O'Grady said it was important to "manage" migration but said she was "fed up" with migrants being blamed for government shortcomings.
Ms Leadsom said the Bank of England had said uncontrolled immigration put "downward pressure" on wages.Ms Leadsom said the Bank of England had said uncontrolled immigration put "downward pressure" on wages.
The final section focused on sovereignty and the UK's role in the world.The final section focused on sovereignty and the UK's role in the world.
Ms Leadsom attacked the Brussels "gravy train" which she says controlled 60% of UK laws and regulations. Ms Leadsom attacked the Brussels "gravy train" which she said controlled 60% of UK laws and regulations.
She said the UK had been voted down every time it had tried to object to an EU imposition.She said the UK had been voted down every time it had tried to object to an EU imposition.
"How is that making our own decisions?" she asks. "How is that making our own decisions?" she asked.
Her Tory colleague Ms Davidson said the 60% figure was a "blatant untruth". She accused the Leave side of "lying" on this and other subjects. Her Tory colleague Ms Davidson said the 60% figure was a "blatant untruth". She accused the Leave side of "lying" on this and other subjects including Turkish membership.
Mr Johnson said the home secretary was unable to deport serious criminals because of EU laws, saying it was "absolutely amazing how the Remain side have the cheek to tell us we improve our security by staying in this organisation". Mr Johnson said the home secretary was unable to deport serious criminals because of European laws, saying it was "absolutely amazing how the Remain side have the cheek to tell us we improve our security by staying in this organisation".
But Mr Khan challenged him to name one of the UK's Nato allies that supported a vote to leave the EU.But Mr Khan challenged him to name one of the UK's Nato allies that supported a vote to leave the EU.
As well as the main panellists there is a smaller stage featuring campaigners from other political parties, business and journalism. As well as the main panellists there was a smaller stage featuring campaigners from other political parties, business and journalism.
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said immigration "goes two ways", saying it was an "amazing gift" for Britons to be able to work and study overseas.Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said immigration "goes two ways", saying it was an "amazing gift" for Britons to be able to work and study overseas.
UKIP's Diane James defended a recent poster from her party showing a long queue of migrations in Slovenia, saying similar images had been used in the media to show the problems with EU free movement.UKIP's Diane James defended a recent poster from her party showing a long queue of migrations in Slovenia, saying similar images had been used in the media to show the problems with EU free movement.
Also on the second panel are former Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King, who backs remaining in the EU, and founder and chairman of Wetherspoons Tim Martin, who supports Brexit. Also on the second panel were former Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King, who backs remaining in the EU, and founder and chairman of Wetherspoons Tim Martin, who supports Brexit.
EU Referendum: The Great Debate is broadcast on Tuesday 21 June from 20:00 - 22:00 BST (19:00 - 21:00 GMT) on BBC One, on BBC Online and BBC World News. It will be available to watch afterwards on the BBC iPlayer. EU Referendum: The Great Debate will be available to watch on the BBC iPlayer.