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EU referendum: Leave and Remain clash in BBC Great Debate EU referendum: Leave and Remain clash in BBC Great Debate
(35 minutes later)
The biggest live debate of the UK's EU referendum campaign is under way at Wembley Arena. The biggest live debate of the UK's EU referendum campaign is taking place before 6,000 people at Wembley Arena.
Both sides of the debate are facing questions, starting with the economy, before a 6,000-strong audience. Rival sides of the debate are facing questions on the economy, immigration and Britain's place in the world.
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.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.
Panellists include Boris Johnson, for Leave, and his successor as London Mayor Sadiq Khan, for Remain.Panellists include Boris Johnson, for Leave, and his successor as London Mayor Sadiq Khan, for Remain.
The debate, hosted by David Dimbleby, Mishal Husain and Emily Maitlis, is live on BBC One.The debate, hosted by David Dimbleby, Mishal Husain and Emily Maitlis, is live on BBC One.
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.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.
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.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.
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 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
Chris Mason, BBC political correspondent
An observer here describes it as "Brexfactor". One of those lines I wish I'd come up with myself.
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."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".Ms O'Grady said EU "red tape" really meant "getting rid of workers' rights".
There will be contributions by campaigners from other political parties, business and journalism on a second, smaller stage. 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".
Among them 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. 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.
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.
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 Leadsom said the Bank of England had said uncontrolled immigration put "downward pressure" on wages.
As well as the main panellists 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.
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.
EU Referendum: The Great Debate will be 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 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.