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EU referendum live: Cameron makes 'Brits don't quit' plea in Downing Street EU referendum live: Cameron makes 'Brits don't quit' plea in Downing Street
(35 minutes later)
4.56pm BST
16:56
Survation poll gives Remain a 1-point lead
Survation has published a new poll this afternoon, and the headline figures give Remain a one-point lead.
NEW #EURef poll from Survation / @IGcom: LEAVE 44% (+2); REMAIN 45% (NC); Undecided 11% (-2) https://t.co/5Xoyn952H6
When don’t knows are excluded, these figures are equivalent to:
Remain: 51%
Leave: 49%
But Survation says that it also asked a question forcing the undecideds to decide, and that this produced a 50/50 dead heat.
4.40pm BST
16:40
This is from the Daily Mail’s Jason Groves.
In private, I'm told Cameron highlighting Brexit gridlock + telling wavering Tories: 'You don't really want 3 years of Euro-wank, do you?'
David Cameron’s Number 10 statement (see 2pm) would have been a lot more interesting if he had included this argument ...
4.37pm BST
16:37
Here’s Nigel Farage with Ukip’s latest poster.
It is less inflammatory than his last one.
4.33pm BST4.33pm BST
16:3316:33
A Tory councillor who posted an offensive social media post ridiculing fund-raising following the death of MP Jo Cox has been suspended by his local party with a recommendation that he is expelled, the Press Association reports.A Tory councillor who posted an offensive social media post ridiculing fund-raising following the death of MP Jo Cox has been suspended by his local party with a recommendation that he is expelled, the Press Association reports.
East Riding of Yorkshire councillor Dominic Peacock was responding to a news story about the appeal following Mrs Cox’s death reaching 1 million, when he posted on Facebook: “I’ve just donated the steam off my piss.”East Riding of Yorkshire councillor Dominic Peacock was responding to a news story about the appeal following Mrs Cox’s death reaching 1 million, when he posted on Facebook: “I’ve just donated the steam off my piss.”
Soon after, he posted on a local Vote Leave supporting page: “I’ve deleted my offensive comment, I shouldn’t have put it on in the first place - I won’t make excuses.”Soon after, he posted on a local Vote Leave supporting page: “I’ve deleted my offensive comment, I shouldn’t have put it on in the first place - I won’t make excuses.”
Peacock is one of three Tories who represent the Minster and Woodmansey ward, which covers the countryside just north of the city of Hull, on the Conservative-run council.Peacock is one of three Tories who represent the Minster and Woodmansey ward, which covers the countryside just north of the city of Hull, on the Conservative-run council.
Council leader Stephen Parnaby said in a statement: “Following inappropriate and offensive comments made on social media relating to the sad and tragic death of Jo Cox MP, I have suspended Cllr Dominic Peacock from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Conservative Group with immediate effect. I shall be reporting this to a meeting of the full group and my recommendation will be that he be expelled.Council leader Stephen Parnaby said in a statement: “Following inappropriate and offensive comments made on social media relating to the sad and tragic death of Jo Cox MP, I have suspended Cllr Dominic Peacock from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Conservative Group with immediate effect. I shall be reporting this to a meeting of the full group and my recommendation will be that he be expelled.
All people in public life, irrespective of politics, should be united in condemning the fatal and dreadful attack on Jo Cox.”All people in public life, irrespective of politics, should be united in condemning the fatal and dreadful attack on Jo Cox.”
3.51pm BST3.51pm BST
15:5115:51
Almost half of those planning to vote Leave believe that the the referendum will be rigged against them, according to YouGov poll findings reported by politics.co.uk.Almost half of those planning to vote Leave believe that the the referendum will be rigged against them, according to YouGov poll findings reported by politics.co.uk.
This won’t surprise the Economist’s Jeremy Cliffe. In a very good Bagehot column in this week’s edition he says that “at a recent Leave event your columnist witnessed Tories and Kippers urge their supporters to take pens into the polling booth on June 23rd to prevent the intelligence services from doctoring their votes”.This won’t surprise the Economist’s Jeremy Cliffe. In a very good Bagehot column in this week’s edition he says that “at a recent Leave event your columnist witnessed Tories and Kippers urge their supporters to take pens into the polling booth on June 23rd to prevent the intelligence services from doctoring their votes”.
3.43pm BST3.43pm BST
15:4315:43
Welsh Labour AMs on steps of Senedd w/ @AMCarwyn and Neil Kinnock setting out why Wales is #StrongerIn pic.twitter.com/R0YCjjBWgIWelsh Labour AMs on steps of Senedd w/ @AMCarwyn and Neil Kinnock setting out why Wales is #StrongerIn pic.twitter.com/R0YCjjBWgI
3.25pm BST3.25pm BST
15:2515:25
Steve Hilton, David Cameron’s former director of strategy, told BBC News that he thought the statement made by David Cameron outside Number 10 was “weird”. He explained:Steve Hilton, David Cameron’s former director of strategy, told BBC News that he thought the statement made by David Cameron outside Number 10 was “weird”. He explained:
It was very interesting actually and rather an amazing thing to hear because what you just saw from the prime minister was an admission that they have lost the economic argument, they have lost the argument on immigration and so he has been wheeled out by rather panicky spin doctors, it seems to me, to try and change the subject.It was very interesting actually and rather an amazing thing to hear because what you just saw from the prime minister was an admission that they have lost the economic argument, they have lost the argument on immigration and so he has been wheeled out by rather panicky spin doctors, it seems to me, to try and change the subject.
3.19pm BST3.19pm BST
15:1915:19
If, like many people, you have been dismayed by how shallow much of the debate about the EU in the mainstream media has been, then you may enjoy this blog by my colleague Jack Shenker. He has compiled an alternative EU referendum reading list, with articles putting the case both for Leave and Remain using arguments that have not had much airing in the newspapers.If, like many people, you have been dismayed by how shallow much of the debate about the EU in the mainstream media has been, then you may enjoy this blog by my colleague Jack Shenker. He has compiled an alternative EU referendum reading list, with articles putting the case both for Leave and Remain using arguments that have not had much airing in the newspapers.
3.10pm BST3.10pm BST
15:1015:10
EasyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has claimed it is “very possible” that flights between the UK and Europe would be more expensive following a Leave vote in the EU referendum, the Press Association reports. He said:EasyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has claimed it is “very possible” that flights between the UK and Europe would be more expensive following a Leave vote in the EU referendum, the Press Association reports. He said:
It is certainly not my place to tell people how to vote, but it is very possible that - in a post-Brexit Europe - a more restrictive aviation environment would mean fewer flights from the UK to Europe and hence less competition between airlines.It is certainly not my place to tell people how to vote, but it is very possible that - in a post-Brexit Europe - a more restrictive aviation environment would mean fewer flights from the UK to Europe and hence less competition between airlines.
2.32pm BST2.32pm BST
14:3214:32
Lunchtime summaryLunchtime summary
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.34pm BSTat 2.34pm BST
2.21pm BST2.21pm BST
14:2114:21
In an article for the Financial Times, Larry Summers, a former US Treasury secretary, said:In an article for the Financial Times, Larry Summers, a former US Treasury secretary, said:
Brexit could well be the worst self-inflicted policy wound by a G7 country since the formation of the G7 40 years ago.Brexit could well be the worst self-inflicted policy wound by a G7 country since the formation of the G7 40 years ago.
It is a risk no prudent policy-maker would take. And the risk is not confined to the UK. In the current context, Brexit would unsettle the global economy and possibly tip it into recession.It is a risk no prudent policy-maker would take. And the risk is not confined to the UK. In the current context, Brexit would unsettle the global economy and possibly tip it into recession.
2.03pm BST2.03pm BST
14:0314:03
According to Sky’s Faisal Islam, No 10 are saying David Cameron’s use of Number 10 for his EU referendum statement did not break “purdah” rules.According to Sky’s Faisal Islam, No 10 are saying David Cameron’s use of Number 10 for his EU referendum statement did not break “purdah” rules.
Downing Street say the PM's appeal to the nation from outside Number 10 does not break purdah rules, and has all been cleared.Downing Street say the PM's appeal to the nation from outside Number 10 does not break purdah rules, and has all been cleared.
2.00pm BST
14:00
Cameron's statement - Analysis
Cameron’s statement - Analysis: Bernard Jenkin will go bonkers. We were told to expect a significant statement from David Cameron. In the event he had nothing to announce at all. The significance lay not in what he was saying, but where he was saying it; he was using the full paraphernalia and architecture of prime ministerial office (the podium, and the front door of Number 10) to give authority to his warns about the risks of Brexit.
I mention Jenkin because is is one of the Tory MPs who has been most exercised about Cameron abusing “purdah” - the rule that says the machinery of government is supposed to stay neutral in the final weeks of the campaign. The Brexiteers will be furious with Sir Jeremy Heywood, the cabinet secretary, for allowing this. (He is already quite high up their list of establishment hate figures.) But too late. No one really cares. And Cameron’s message is out.
As far as the message went, it was more or less the same as the standard stump speech he has been giving at every EU referendum event he has attended. That is not a problem, because a good stump speech should contain a strong message worth repeating. The most memorable passages came when Cameron talked about taking tough security decisions “behind that door” and when he made a direct appeal to the middle-aged and the elderly to think of what’s best for their children and grandchildren.
Will it make any difference? All the polling evidence suggests that, like most other frontline politicians, Cameron is distrusted on Europe. Standing in front of a podium will not on its own be enough to repair that reputational damage. But Remain’s position in the polls did seem to suffer a bit when “purdah” set in, and so, for Cameron, a bit of status flaunting was probably worth a gamble.
Besides, he’s at the point in the campaign where anything is worth a try.
Updated
at 2.16pm BST
1.44pm BST
13:44
Cameron says he wants to speak very directly to people of his generation and older.
He knows Europe is not perfect. But we have the best of both worlds.
Do think about the hopes and dreams of your children and grandchildren.
He says their future rests on this decision.
It cannot be undone. It is irreversible, he says.
He says the conversations will continue over the next two days.
But on Thursday it will be “just you in the polling booth”, he says.
He says he believes very strongly from his years of experience we will be stronger, safer and better off in.
If we leave, it will be a risk to jobs and our children’s future.
He urges people to vote remain.
That’s it.
1.41pm BST
13:41
Cameron says for the last six years he has focused on sorting out the economy.
I know I have not got every decision right.
But, on this he is convinced - and every living former prime minister is convinced - that Britain is better off in the EU.
Leaving the EU would put everything at risk, he says.
People whose job it is to warn prime ministers say leaving would hurt the economy, in the short term, the medium term and the long term.
1.39pm BST
13:39
Cameron says 'Brits don't quit'
He says the UK has always made it influence felt, not by walking away from the world, but engaging with it.
Brits don’t quit.
He says if we left the EU, they would still be making decisions - but without us.
1.38pm BST
13:38
He says the UK is a special country.
If he thought remaining diminishes us, he would recommend leaving.
But it does not. It “amplifies our power”, he says.
With the EU behind us we can take a stronger lead dealing with problems around the world, he says.
1.37pm BST
13:37
He says he has been PM for six years. He wants to say why he feels so strongly about this.
The economy will be stronger if we stay, and weaker if we leave.
And it is also about security.
Some of the most chilling moments “behind that door” are reading intelligence reports. He has to “make the right call” to protect people.
He would not be saying we should stay in the EU if being in makes that harder.
He says leaving would make it harder to keep the nation safe. We are safer in, he says.
1.35pm BST
13:35
Cameron's statement
David Cameron says we are near the end of a frenetic campaign.
He wants to pause and speak to the nation about this decision.
1.32pm BST
13:32
Cameron planning Number 10 statement
This is from Sky’s Faisal Islam.
The podium is out in Downing Street - PM to make a significant statement shortly pic.twitter.com/cScSTjVtqA
1.31pm BST
13:31
Nigel Farage has been in Harwich taking the Ukip version of the bacon sandwich test.
In the latest in politicians eating food on #EUref campaign, Ukip's Nigel Farage opts for whelks in Harwich... pic.twitter.com/jrZiAX29Rs
1.26pm BST
13:26
JK Rowling and Nadine Dorries row on Twitter over David Beckham
Nadine Dorries, the pro-Brexit Tory MP, has used Twitter to patronise David Beckham following his pro-Remain statement this morning.
So, multi millionaire, multi home owning man who can kick a ball supports remain. It's become a division of the classes. #VoteLeave #EUref
JK Rowling, who is pro-Remain, has hit back.
Know your place, successful working class boys. Don't start thinking you can have opinions just because you made it. https://t.co/PySiMixZpA
That prompted this exchange:
@jk_rowling Just so you know, I'm L'pool working class council estate till mid adult years
@NadineDorriesMP Then you should be applauding and enabling social mobility, not sneering when it happens.
@jk_rowling That's why I want to protect borders and prevent cheap labour from suppressing the wage of struggling on my estate #VoteLeave
@NadineDorriesMP You're selling the desperate a lie. Experts concur Leave will severely impact jobs. Yours will be safe, though, eh? #Remain