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| EU referendum live: remain and leave make final push in last day of campaign | EU referendum live: remain and leave make final push in last day of campaign |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.28am BST | |
| 09:28 | |
| Andrew Sparrow | |
| Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Claire. | |
| The Press Association has more on Boris Johnson’s visit to Maldon. | |
| Johnson’s next campaign stop was in Maldon, Essex, where he joined Brexit-backing Cabinet minister John Whittingdale. | |
| After a walk through the town marked by the usual ritual of posing for selfies, signing autographs and acknowledging shouts of support from passing motorists, the former London mayor told activists: “I do think that we are on the verge, possibly, of an extraordinary event in the history of our country and indeed in the whole of Europe.” | |
| He added: “It’s all going to about getting our supporters out to vote and if we do it I really think tomorrow can be independence day.” | |
| But the rally was interrupted by former Tory supporter Nigel Brunt, who said: “Democracy will win tomorrow and it will be Remain.” | |
| Brunt, who was jeered by the Vote Leave activists, told local MP Whittingdale: “As an ex, now, Conservative supporter in this borough, I hope you resign after the vote.” | |
| Johnson stopped to buy copies of Brexit-backing newspapers The Sun and Daily Telegraph in Maldon. | |
| The Tory MP, a Telegraph columnist, flicked through the papers as he strolled around the town. | |
| 9.06am BST | |
| 09:06 | |
| Remainers might have Operation Croissant, but Boris Johnson has a wild salmon: | |
| Johnson had an early start at Billingsgate fish market, where he also revealed that he had once “kissed a crocodile in Australia”. | |
| Less surprisingly, he then told BBC Breakfast that he was pushing for an Australian-style points system for immigration, and “personally would advocate” a cut in the number of people coming to the UK. | |
| He then skipped on to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, where he said of the money sent by Britain to Europe: | |
| Some of it is spent in this country by Brussels bureaucrats, some of it comes back in the form of rebate but that is at the discretion of the EU, and half of it we never see again – it just vanishes. | |
| It is spent in a way that is extremely dodgy and in many ways, and very often as you know, it is the subject of corruption. | |
| Johnson is currently in Maldon, Essex, with John Whittingdale, the pro-Brexit culture secretary. | |
| And it’s still only 9am. It’s going to be a long last day of campaigning. | |
| 8.56am BST | |
| 08:56 | |
| Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi has written his please-don’t-go column for the Guardian this morning; in Warsaw, the palace of culture and science switched on the red, white and blue lights last night: | |
| At St Pancras station this morning, London commuters were met with Operation Croissant – Parisians wielding croissants and messages to voters to stay with the EU: | |
| Postcards from Paris for London commuters this morning asking them to #remain #operationcroissant pic.twitter.com/Lm04qdN52D | |
| Also in London, Tate Modern was lit up last night, too: | |
| Updated | |
| at 8.58am BST | |
| 8.43am BST | 8.43am BST |
| 08:43 | 08:43 |
| It feels a little too early in today’s live blog for Godwin’s law, so apologies, but we have our first Nazi reference of the day. | It feels a little too early in today’s live blog for Godwin’s law, so apologies, but we have our first Nazi reference of the day. |
| Via Press Association: | Via Press Association: |
| Michael Gove has compared economic experts warning about the fall-out of Brexit to the Nazis who orchestrated a smear campaign against Albert Einstein in the 1930s. | Michael Gove has compared economic experts warning about the fall-out of Brexit to the Nazis who orchestrated a smear campaign against Albert Einstein in the 1930s. |
| The justice secretary, who co-chairs the Vote Leave campaign, said experts cannot always be trusted, after being challenged over why he is not heeding the advice of many economists who have warned that Brexit could have dire consequences and tip the economy into recession. | The justice secretary, who co-chairs the Vote Leave campaign, said experts cannot always be trusted, after being challenged over why he is not heeding the advice of many economists who have warned that Brexit could have dire consequences and tip the economy into recession. |
| The International Monetary Fund, 10 Nobel-prize winning economists and the Bank of England have all warned that leaving the EU could damage the economy. | The International Monetary Fund, 10 Nobel-prize winning economists and the Bank of England have all warned that leaving the EU could damage the economy. |
| Gove told LBC: | Gove told LBC: |
| I think the key thing here is to interrogate the assumptions that are made and to ask if these arguments are good. | I think the key thing here is to interrogate the assumptions that are made and to ask if these arguments are good. |
| We have to be careful about historical comparisons, but Albert Einstein during the 1930s was denounced by the German authorities for being wrong and his theories were denounced, and one of the reasons of course he was denounced was because he was Jewish. | We have to be careful about historical comparisons, but Albert Einstein during the 1930s was denounced by the German authorities for being wrong and his theories were denounced, and one of the reasons of course he was denounced was because he was Jewish. |
| They got 100 German scientists in the pay of the government to say that he was wrong and Einstein said: ‘Look, if I was wrong, one would have been enough.’ | They got 100 German scientists in the pay of the government to say that he was wrong and Einstein said: ‘Look, if I was wrong, one would have been enough.’ |
| The truth is that if you look at the quality of the analysis, if you look at the facts on the ground, you can come to an appropriate conclusion. | The truth is that if you look at the quality of the analysis, if you look at the facts on the ground, you can come to an appropriate conclusion. |
| And the appropriate conclusion, I think, all of us can come to is that with growth rates so low in Europe, with so many unemployed and with the nature of the single currency so damaging, freeing ourselves from that project can only strengthen our economy. | And the appropriate conclusion, I think, all of us can come to is that with growth rates so low in Europe, with so many unemployed and with the nature of the single currency so damaging, freeing ourselves from that project can only strengthen our economy. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.45am BST | at 8.45am BST |
| 8.29am BST | 8.29am BST |
| 08:29 | 08:29 |
| Cameron: I will accept the instructions of the British people | Cameron: I will accept the instructions of the British people |
| Cameron reacts strongly to a suggestion that the UK risks tying itself to a dying institution: | Cameron reacts strongly to a suggestion that the UK risks tying itself to a dying institution: |
| We are not shackled to a corpse, you can see the European economy is recovering … The vision of Britain in Europe is that we do have a special status, you have the best of both worlds … | We are not shackled to a corpse, you can see the European economy is recovering … The vision of Britain in Europe is that we do have a special status, you have the best of both worlds … |
| I am a deeply patriotic person … I don’t want to give that up to some sort of United Europe. | I am a deeply patriotic person … I don’t want to give that up to some sort of United Europe. |
| We achieve more if we’re in these organisations fighting for British interests rather than standing outside, ear pressed to the glass. | We achieve more if we’re in these organisations fighting for British interests rather than standing outside, ear pressed to the glass. |
| And will he still be prime minister on Friday, come what may? | And will he still be prime minister on Friday, come what may? |
| I will accept the instructions of the British people and get to work to deliver them. | I will accept the instructions of the British people and get to work to deliver them. |
| And he’s done. | And he’s done. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.33am BST | at 8.33am BST |
| 8.26am BST | 8.26am BST |
| 08:26 | 08:26 |
| Cameron says we need to come up with “smart ways” of managing immigration, citing efforts to curb criminals from coming into Britain and cracking down on sham marriages. | Cameron says we need to come up with “smart ways” of managing immigration, citing efforts to curb criminals from coming into Britain and cracking down on sham marriages. |
| He says reform will continue “on Friday” if the UK stays inside the EU. | He says reform will continue “on Friday” if the UK stays inside the EU. |
| There are people in our country who haven’t had as good chances as I’d like them to have … stating in the European Union is actually going to increase people’s life chances. | There are people in our country who haven’t had as good chances as I’d like them to have … stating in the European Union is actually going to increase people’s life chances. |
| Staying in the EU makes it easier, too, to tackle issues such as terrorism and climate change, Cameron says. | Staying in the EU makes it easier, too, to tackle issues such as terrorism and climate change, Cameron says. |
| 8.22am BST | 8.22am BST |
| 08:22 | 08:22 |
| Cameron says the claim by his former adviser Steve Hilton that he knew four years ago that it would be impossible to cut net migration to the tens of thousands is “simply not true”. | Cameron says the claim by his former adviser Steve Hilton that he knew four years ago that it would be impossible to cut net migration to the tens of thousands is “simply not true”. |
| He says that when Hilton left No 10 in 2012, net migration was falling “and the forecast was that we would be meeting the target we had”. | He says that when Hilton left No 10 in 2012, net migration was falling “and the forecast was that we would be meeting the target we had”. |
| (As Cameron told the Guardian on the same question: “The figures were 244,000 in 2010 and by the autumn of 2012 it was down to 154,000, so it was falling towards that ambition.”) | (As Cameron told the Guardian on the same question: “The figures were 244,000 in 2010 and by the autumn of 2012 it was down to 154,000, so it was falling towards that ambition.”) |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.26am BST | at 8.26am BST |
| 8.20am BST | 8.20am BST |
| 08:20 | 08:20 |
| Cameron: We don’t solve our immigration challenge by leaving the European Union but we do create a massive problem for our economy. | Cameron: We don’t solve our immigration challenge by leaving the European Union but we do create a massive problem for our economy. |
| In the debate last night, the leave campaign admitted it could take 10 years to negotiate a trade deal. | In the debate last night, the leave campaign admitted it could take 10 years to negotiate a trade deal. |
| 8.18am BST | 8.18am BST |
| 08:18 | 08:18 |
| Cameron insists that the safeguards against “ever closer union” are legally binding on the other 27 member states if the UK votes to remain. | Cameron insists that the safeguards against “ever closer union” are legally binding on the other 27 member states if the UK votes to remain. |
| It’s undeniable that we have the best of both worlds. | It’s undeniable that we have the best of both worlds. |
| This [a vote to leave] is irreversible: you can’t jump out of the aeroplane then climb back in through the cockpit hatch. | This [a vote to leave] is irreversible: you can’t jump out of the aeroplane then climb back in through the cockpit hatch. |
| 8.15am BST | 8.15am BST |
| 08:15 | 08:15 |
| Cameron denies that the concessions he secured on EU migrants’ access to in-work benefits amount to very little. | Cameron denies that the concessions he secured on EU migrants’ access to in-work benefits amount to very little. |
| That will make a difference … It’s about a principle as well as the numbers: if you come and work here, you have to pay in for four years before you get anything out of the system. | That will make a difference … It’s about a principle as well as the numbers: if you come and work here, you have to pay in for four years before you get anything out of the system. |
| He argues that concessions he achieved add to the UK’s “special status” in the EU: | He argues that concessions he achieved add to the UK’s “special status” in the EU: |
| We were at risk of getting drawn into bailouts of the euro … We did not have that guarantee and that is now guaranteed. | We were at risk of getting drawn into bailouts of the euro … We did not have that guarantee and that is now guaranteed. |
| 8.12am BST | 8.12am BST |
| 08:12 | 08:12 |
| Cameron Today programme interview | Cameron Today programme interview |
| David Cameron is speaking on Radio 4 now. He also gave an interview to the Guardian, which you can read here. | David Cameron is speaking on Radio 4 now. He also gave an interview to the Guardian, which you can read here. |
| On his decision to call the referendum and whether he was effectively bumped into it, he says: | On his decision to call the referendum and whether he was effectively bumped into it, he says: |
| We haven’t had a say on this issue since the 1970s. Europe has changed … I would dispute that this has been done in a hurry. | We haven’t had a say on this issue since the 1970s. Europe has changed … I would dispute that this has been done in a hurry. |
| 8.04am BST | 8.04am BST |
| 08:04 | 08:04 |
| Scottish leaders back remain | Scottish leaders back remain |
| Severin Carrell | Severin Carrell |
| Scotland’s political leaders and its five surviving first ministers have released joint cross-party statements urging voters to back remain, as the campaigns began their final push before referendum day. | Scotland’s political leaders and its five surviving first ministers have released joint cross-party statements urging voters to back remain, as the campaigns began their final push before referendum day. |
| The five first ministers, Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon for the SNP, Jack McConnell and Henry McLeish for Scottish Labour, with Jim Wallace, the Scottish Lib Dem twice acting first minister, said Scotland had to “maximise the remain vote” on Thursday: | The five first ministers, Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon for the SNP, Jack McConnell and Henry McLeish for Scottish Labour, with Jim Wallace, the Scottish Lib Dem twice acting first minister, said Scotland had to “maximise the remain vote” on Thursday: |
| The stakes could hardly be higher. Staying in the European Union and its single market is vital for jobs and investment in Scotland, and also enshrines key protections for workers and consumers. | The stakes could hardly be higher. Staying in the European Union and its single market is vital for jobs and investment in Scotland, and also enshrines key protections for workers and consumers. |
| In a splash story reminiscent of the controversial “vow” by UK party leaders on the eve of Scotland’s independence referendum in 2014, the Daily Record published what it said was an unprecedented joint statement by the leaders of Scotland’s five main parties. | In a splash story reminiscent of the controversial “vow” by UK party leaders on the eve of Scotland’s independence referendum in 2014, the Daily Record published what it said was an unprecedented joint statement by the leaders of Scotland’s five main parties. |
| Tomorrow's Daily Record carries an unprecedented joint statement from all five Holyrood party leaders backing Remain pic.twitter.com/YL8yzz1JAP | Tomorrow's Daily Record carries an unprecedented joint statement from all five Holyrood party leaders backing Remain pic.twitter.com/YL8yzz1JAP |
| Sturgeon, along with Ruth Davidson for the Scottish Tories, Kezia Dugdale of Scottish Labour, Patrick Harvie of the Scottish Greens and Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie, said they set aside their policy differences to agree on the need to stay in the EU: | Sturgeon, along with Ruth Davidson for the Scottish Tories, Kezia Dugdale of Scottish Labour, Patrick Harvie of the Scottish Greens and Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie, said they set aside their policy differences to agree on the need to stay in the EU: |
| We disagree on much, but this issue transcends party politics – staying in Europe and its single market of over 500 million people is vital for jobs, investment and opportunities for the people of Scotland. | We disagree on much, but this issue transcends party politics – staying in Europe and its single market of over 500 million people is vital for jobs, investment and opportunities for the people of Scotland. |
| Scotland has ancient trading and educational links with our European neighbours. In the aftermath of World War II, the EU was established as ‘Project Peace’, to turn swords into ploughshares. | Scotland has ancient trading and educational links with our European neighbours. In the aftermath of World War II, the EU was established as ‘Project Peace’, to turn swords into ploughshares. |
| Peace on our continent is a precious legacy, and a powerful example to the rest of the world. We should not turn our backs on all that has been achieved … | Peace on our continent is a precious legacy, and a powerful example to the rest of the world. We should not turn our backs on all that has been achieved … |
| Common sense tells us that if Scotland is taken out of the world’s biggest free trade area, our economy will be damaged. It would be all pain for no gain. | Common sense tells us that if Scotland is taken out of the world’s biggest free trade area, our economy will be damaged. It would be all pain for no gain. |
| 7.51am BST | 7.51am BST |
| 07:51 | 07:51 |
| Global tributes to Jo Cox | Global tributes to Jo Cox |
| Most of the worldwide events in memory of Jo Cox – synchronised to take place today, on what would have been her 42nd birthday, under the banner #MoreInCommon – are happening later, around 4pm UK time. | Most of the worldwide events in memory of Jo Cox – synchronised to take place today, on what would have been her 42nd birthday, under the banner #MoreInCommon – are happening later, around 4pm UK time. |
| Some have already taken place, such as this tribute in Melbourne, at Oxfam Australia: | Some have already taken place, such as this tribute in Melbourne, at Oxfam Australia: |
| "We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us." Vale Jo Cox #MoreInCommon pic.twitter.com/hcwSeMsb2k | "We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us." Vale Jo Cox #MoreInCommon pic.twitter.com/hcwSeMsb2k |
| Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd added his support: | Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd added his support: |
| Today would've been Jo Cox’s 42nd birthday. Keep her legacy alive: https://t.co/8VVHgHxX1R #moreincommon #lovelikeJo pic.twitter.com/j8vwMLvSLK | Today would've been Jo Cox’s 42nd birthday. Keep her legacy alive: https://t.co/8VVHgHxX1R #moreincommon #lovelikeJo pic.twitter.com/j8vwMLvSLK |
| The Google UK homepage has added a note to mark the day and link to a fundraising page for three charities supported by Cox. The fund has now surpassed £1.2m. | The Google UK homepage has added a note to mark the day and link to a fundraising page for three charities supported by Cox. The fund has now surpassed £1.2m. |
| 7.38am BST | 7.38am BST |
| 07:38 | 07:38 |
| Whatever happens tomorrow, I think it’s fair to say that the Sun and David Cameron are never, ever getting back together: | Whatever happens tomorrow, I think it’s fair to say that the Sun and David Cameron are never, ever getting back together: |
| "Don't put your trust in Cameron" --- @TheSun gets very personal against the PM pic.twitter.com/xiot8SPVPu | "Don't put your trust in Cameron" --- @TheSun gets very personal against the PM pic.twitter.com/xiot8SPVPu |
| 7.27am BST | 7.27am BST |
| 07:27 | 07:27 |
| The rhetoric about Turkey in this campaign has not gone unnoticed in that country, an adviser to the Turkish president has said. | The rhetoric about Turkey in this campaign has not gone unnoticed in that country, an adviser to the Turkish president has said. |
| Ilnur Cevik told BBC’s Newsnight on Wednesday that Turkish citizens would not “flood” to Britain if the country joined the EU, Press Association reports: | Ilnur Cevik told BBC’s Newsnight on Wednesday that Turkish citizens would not “flood” to Britain if the country joined the EU, Press Association reports: |
| Cevik, who is close to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, criticised both David Cameron for “taking us for a ride” by indicating he supported the country joining the EU, and the Leave campaign for using the prospect as “an alibi” for Brexit. | Cevik, who is close to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, criticised both David Cameron for “taking us for a ride” by indicating he supported the country joining the EU, and the Leave campaign for using the prospect as “an alibi” for Brexit. |
| He said Turkey is “deeply hurting” now that the prime minister has indicated he is unlikely to support its EU membership after Brexit campaigners used the potential accession to warn that it could open Britain’s borders to millions of Turks. | He said Turkey is “deeply hurting” now that the prime minister has indicated he is unlikely to support its EU membership after Brexit campaigners used the potential accession to warn that it could open Britain’s borders to millions of Turks. |
| But responding to the leave campaign’s claims that could mean more Turkish criminals in the UK, Cevik told Newsnight: | But responding to the leave campaign’s claims that could mean more Turkish criminals in the UK, Cevik told Newsnight: |
| Firstly, the crime rate is not high. | Firstly, the crime rate is not high. |
| Secondly, there’s no extraordinary situation in this country that we would export anything to Britain. | Secondly, there’s no extraordinary situation in this country that we would export anything to Britain. |
| But besides that, who’s going to come to Britain? Why should we be flooding Britain? There’s no reason. Whatever exists in Britain also exists in Turkey. | But besides that, who’s going to come to Britain? Why should we be flooding Britain? There’s no reason. Whatever exists in Britain also exists in Turkey. |
| We are not going to go over there just because you produce Cadbury chocolates and Maltesers, for God’s sake. | We are not going to go over there just because you produce Cadbury chocolates and Maltesers, for God’s sake. |
| They should not use us as an alibi, they should not use us as a pretext, they should really deal with the nitty-gritty of why they should be leaving. | They should not use us as an alibi, they should not use us as a pretext, they should really deal with the nitty-gritty of why they should be leaving. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.29am BST | at 7.29am BST |
| 7.20am BST | 7.20am BST |
| 07:20 | 07:20 |
| Tory MEP and prominent leave campaigner Daniel Hannan has been speaking on the Today programme, where he was asked about that £350m figure, curiously absent from the Brexit arguments in last night’s BBC debate. | Tory MEP and prominent leave campaigner Daniel Hannan has been speaking on the Today programme, where he was asked about that £350m figure, curiously absent from the Brexit arguments in last night’s BBC debate. |
| Hannan insisted the claim hadn’t been shelved: | Hannan insisted the claim hadn’t been shelved: |
| No, I’m very comfortable to defend that figure: it’s the difference between gross and net … It’s not one that I’ve plucked out of the air. | No, I’m very comfortable to defend that figure: it’s the difference between gross and net … It’s not one that I’ve plucked out of the air. |
| It is true, he conceded: | It is true, he conceded: |
| We don’t literally, in a digitised age, put gold in the back of a van and drive it across the Channel. | We don’t literally, in a digitised age, put gold in the back of a van and drive it across the Channel. |
| But he argued that nobody would argue that the 20p income tax rate was | But he argued that nobody would argue that the 20p income tax rate was |
| actually zero because we get it all back in schools and roads and hospitals. | actually zero because we get it all back in schools and roads and hospitals. |
| 6.57am BST | 6.57am BST |
| 06:57 | 06:57 |
| Morning briefing | Morning briefing |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| Good morning and welcome back to the live blog for the final day of campaigning ahead of tomorrow’s referendum. | Good morning and welcome back to the live blog for the final day of campaigning ahead of tomorrow’s referendum. |
| I’ve rounded up the key moments of last night’s not-quite-final TV debate below, along with the rest of the news you need. Andrew Sparrow will be along later. Do come and chat in the comments below or find me on Twitter @Claire_Phipps. | I’ve rounded up the key moments of last night’s not-quite-final TV debate below, along with the rest of the news you need. Andrew Sparrow will be along later. Do come and chat in the comments below or find me on Twitter @Claire_Phipps. |
| The big picture | The big picture |
| David Cameron, in an interview with the Guardian after his earlier appeal to older voters, says the leave campaign has “become very narrowly focused” on immigration, stoking “an issue that needs careful handling”. | David Cameron, in an interview with the Guardian after his earlier appeal to older voters, says the leave campaign has “become very narrowly focused” on immigration, stoking “an issue that needs careful handling”. |
| The UK is, he says, “arguably the most successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith, opportunity democracy anywhere on earth”, and a vote to remain would send “a very clear message that we’ve rejected this idea that Britain is narrow and insular and inward-looking”. | The UK is, he says, “arguably the most successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith, opportunity democracy anywhere on earth”, and a vote to remain would send “a very clear message that we’ve rejected this idea that Britain is narrow and insular and inward-looking”. |
| Cameron gets a helping hand this morning from the Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, who has written – via the Guardian – to British voters asking them not to make “the wrong choice”: | Cameron gets a helping hand this morning from the Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, who has written – via the Guardian – to British voters asking them not to make “the wrong choice”: |
| Seen from Italy, a vote to leave Europe would not be a disaster, a tragedy or the end of the world for you in the UK. It would be worse, because it would be the wrong choice. It would be a mistake for which you the voters primarily would pay the price. Because who really wants Britain to be small and isolated? | Seen from Italy, a vote to leave Europe would not be a disaster, a tragedy or the end of the world for you in the UK. It would be worse, because it would be the wrong choice. It would be a mistake for which you the voters primarily would pay the price. Because who really wants Britain to be small and isolated? |
| If there’s one thing the British have never done when faced with a challenge that concerns their future, their very identity, it is to make the wrong choice. A Britain less great than it is would go against the very logic of those who want an exit. It would swap autonomy for solitude, pride for weakness, and identity for self-harm. | If there’s one thing the British have never done when faced with a challenge that concerns their future, their very identity, it is to make the wrong choice. A Britain less great than it is would go against the very logic of those who want an exit. It would swap autonomy for solitude, pride for weakness, and identity for self-harm. |
| Last night’s BBC Big Referendum Come Dancing Debate (I’d love to claim that, but it’s a John Crace copyright) pitted Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, London mayor Sadiq Khan and TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady for remain, against Conservative MPs Boris Johnson and Andrea Leadsom and Labour MP Gisela Stuart for leave. | Last night’s BBC Big Referendum Come Dancing Debate (I’d love to claim that, but it’s a John Crace copyright) pitted Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, London mayor Sadiq Khan and TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady for remain, against Conservative MPs Boris Johnson and Andrea Leadsom and Labour MP Gisela Stuart for leave. |
| A snap YouGov poll for the Times found 39% thought leave had won it, over 34% for remain (and a bumper 17% who didn’t know). The same group of those polled were, however, still just a smidgen more likely to vote for remain: 41% to 40%. | A snap YouGov poll for the Times found 39% thought leave had won it, over 34% for remain (and a bumper 17% who didn’t know). The same group of those polled were, however, still just a smidgen more likely to vote for remain: 41% to 40%. |
| What we learned | What we learned |
| I’m going to assume that regular readers and anyone who’s prised open an eyelid at any point during this referendum campaign can take a guess at the key points covered: | I’m going to assume that regular readers and anyone who’s prised open an eyelid at any point during this referendum campaign can take a guess at the key points covered: |
| As my colleague Andrew Sparrow neatly summed it up: “The exchanges bear so little relation to the questions that one wonders why [David] Dimbleby bothers to ask them.” | As my colleague Andrew Sparrow neatly summed it up: “The exchanges bear so little relation to the questions that one wonders why [David] Dimbleby bothers to ask them.” |
| Still, we did glean a few new things: | Still, we did glean a few new things: |
| I think Boris maybe misjudged this panel by talking about the Balkans because what he probably doesn’t know is that I was sent to the Balkans at the end of the Kosovo war as a reporter and I have never been more proud of being British in my life than watching British troops with a union jack on their arms, believing in something, pulling their weight, and helping in the European Union. That’s what caused me to join up and serve. I think I am the only one on this panel that has ever worn the Queen’s uniform. | I think Boris maybe misjudged this panel by talking about the Balkans because what he probably doesn’t know is that I was sent to the Balkans at the end of the Kosovo war as a reporter and I have never been more proud of being British in my life than watching British troops with a union jack on their arms, believing in something, pulling their weight, and helping in the European Union. That’s what caused me to join up and serve. I think I am the only one on this panel that has ever worn the Queen’s uniform. |
| Because the EU is in charge of our trade negotiations we cannot export haggis to America. | Because the EU is in charge of our trade negotiations we cannot export haggis to America. |
| I do just have to remind people that there are mums and dads and grans and grandads on this side as well. | I do just have to remind people that there are mums and dads and grans and grandads on this side as well. |
| Enjoyed making the positive case to stay in the EU on #BBCDebate. And yes - I did break my fast on stage #Ramadan pic.twitter.com/iKXLbUGeaD | Enjoyed making the positive case to stay in the EU on #BBCDebate. And yes - I did break my fast on stage #Ramadan pic.twitter.com/iKXLbUGeaD |
| What we didn’t | What we didn’t |
| The key exchange | The key exchange |
| Khan: Let’s deal with this big fat lie once and for all. Turkey isn’t about to join. And until three months ago, you knew that was the case, Boris Johnson … You are using the ruse of Turkey to scare people to vote to leave. | Khan: Let’s deal with this big fat lie once and for all. Turkey isn’t about to join. And until three months ago, you knew that was the case, Boris Johnson … You are using the ruse of Turkey to scare people to vote to leave. |
| Johnson: I’m a Turk! | Johnson: I’m a Turk! |
| Zinger of the night | Zinger of the night |
| Khan’s “Project Hate” accusation, levelled at Johnson, captured a lot of headlines: | Khan’s “Project Hate” accusation, levelled at Johnson, captured a lot of headlines: |
| Your campaign hasn’t been project fear, it’s been project hate as far as immigration is concerned. | Your campaign hasn’t been project fear, it’s been project hate as far as immigration is concerned. |
| But Johnson of course had a pre-prepared soundbite of his own: | But Johnson of course had a pre-prepared soundbite of his own: |
| This Thursday can be our country’s independence day! | This Thursday can be our country’s independence day! |
| The Remain campaign verdict | The Remain campaign verdict |
| Migration debate section reveals Leave are saying one thing to one audience and something else to another. Deceptive stuff. #BBCDebate | Migration debate section reveals Leave are saying one thing to one audience and something else to another. Deceptive stuff. #BBCDebate |
| That Ruth Davidson had done her homework before the EU debate. Boris Johnson hadn't. She reached out. He looked down. | That Ruth Davidson had done her homework before the EU debate. Boris Johnson hadn't. She reached out. He looked down. |
| The Leave campaign verdict | The Leave campaign verdict |
| No one better than @GiselaStuart, an immigrant, to combat ridiculous accusations that concern about immigration is hateful #BBCDebate | No one better than @GiselaStuart, an immigrant, to combat ridiculous accusations that concern about immigration is hateful #BBCDebate |
| Proud of @GiselaStuart @andrealeadsom & @BorisJohnson tonight. Message of common sense, optimism and confidence in our country. @vote_leave | Proud of @GiselaStuart @andrealeadsom & @BorisJohnson tonight. Message of common sense, optimism and confidence in our country. @vote_leave |
| You should also know | You should also know |
| Poll position | Poll position |
| So far this morning, there are no fresh forecasts, but expect numbers today from ComRes, Opinium and YouGov. There should also be a last-gasp Ipsos Mori poll on Thursday morning. | So far this morning, there are no fresh forecasts, but expect numbers today from ComRes, Opinium and YouGov. There should also be a last-gasp Ipsos Mori poll on Thursday morning. |
| Diary | Diary |
| Read these | Read these |
| It’s been pinging around Facebook, but now this piece by Martin Fletcher, a former foreign editor for the Times, has made its way to the New York Times: | It’s been pinging around Facebook, but now this piece by Martin Fletcher, a former foreign editor for the Times, has made its way to the New York Times: |
| For decades, British newspapers have offered their readers an endless stream of biased, misleading and downright fallacious stories about Brussels. And the journalist who helped set the tone – long before he became the mayor of London or the face of the pro-Brexit campaign – was Boris Johnson … | For decades, British newspapers have offered their readers an endless stream of biased, misleading and downright fallacious stories about Brussels. And the journalist who helped set the tone – long before he became the mayor of London or the face of the pro-Brexit campaign – was Boris Johnson … |
| He wrote about European Union plans to take over Europe, ban Britain’s favourite potato chips, standardise condom sizes and blow up its own asbestos-filled headquarters. These articles were undoubtedly colourful but they bore scant relation to the truth. | He wrote about European Union plans to take over Europe, ban Britain’s favourite potato chips, standardise condom sizes and blow up its own asbestos-filled headquarters. These articles were undoubtedly colourful but they bore scant relation to the truth. |
| Mr Johnson’s dispatches galvanised the rest of Britain’s highly competitive and partisan newspaper industry. They were far more fun than the usual dry, policy-driven Brussels fare. Editors at other newspapers, particularly but not exclusively the tabloids, started pressing their own correspondents to match Mr Johnson’s imaginative reports … | Mr Johnson’s dispatches galvanised the rest of Britain’s highly competitive and partisan newspaper industry. They were far more fun than the usual dry, policy-driven Brussels fare. Editors at other newspapers, particularly but not exclusively the tabloids, started pressing their own correspondents to match Mr Johnson’s imaginative reports … |
| The upshot is that Mr Johnson and his fellow Brexit proponents are now campaigning against the caricature of the European Union that he himself helped create. They are asking the British people to part with a monster about as real as the one in Loch Ness. | The upshot is that Mr Johnson and his fellow Brexit proponents are now campaigning against the caricature of the European Union that he himself helped create. They are asking the British people to part with a monster about as real as the one in Loch Ness. |
| Could Australia swing the EU vote, Julian Lorkin asks on the BBC website: | Could Australia swing the EU vote, Julian Lorkin asks on the BBC website: |
| With 1.2 million British nationals in Australia, and 250,000 in New Zealand, both the stay and leave camps are in full campaign mode half a world away from the UK. Southern hemisphere votes have the potential to swing the knife-edge referendum. | With 1.2 million British nationals in Australia, and 250,000 in New Zealand, both the stay and leave camps are in full campaign mode half a world away from the UK. Southern hemisphere votes have the potential to swing the knife-edge referendum. |
| Posters supporting both sides have sprouted in areas popular with UK residents. In some locations, such as Perth, up to 15% of the population was born in England … | Posters supporting both sides have sprouted in areas popular with UK residents. In some locations, such as Perth, up to 15% of the population was born in England … |
| Far more British expats live Down Under than elsewhere in the world. Only Spain, with 760,000, and the United States at 600,000 come close. As such they will wield considerable influence over whether the UK stays in the EU. | Far more British expats live Down Under than elsewhere in the world. Only Spain, with 760,000, and the United States at 600,000 come close. As such they will wield considerable influence over whether the UK stays in the EU. |
| Cathy Newman in the Telegraph says Theresa May is the one to watch should Cameron take a tumble on Friday: | Cathy Newman in the Telegraph says Theresa May is the one to watch should Cameron take a tumble on Friday: |
| May is truly the quiet woman of British politics. And I don’t mean that as an insult. There’s no shortage of loud-mouths soaking up the attention and hogging the airwaves during this rancorous EU referendum campaign. The home secretary, by contrast, has been reserved to the point of invisibility … | May is truly the quiet woman of British politics. And I don’t mean that as an insult. There’s no shortage of loud-mouths soaking up the attention and hogging the airwaves during this rancorous EU referendum campaign. The home secretary, by contrast, has been reserved to the point of invisibility … |
| Authority, though, is something May has in spades. The longest-serving home secretary for more than a century, she’s managed - in a department known for destroying reputations - to enhance hers. This is something of a miracle, particularly when you consider the government has failed to meet one of its central manifesto pledges on her watch: the promise to reduce immigration to the tens of thousands. | Authority, though, is something May has in spades. The longest-serving home secretary for more than a century, she’s managed - in a department known for destroying reputations - to enhance hers. This is something of a miracle, particularly when you consider the government has failed to meet one of its central manifesto pledges on her watch: the promise to reduce immigration to the tens of thousands. |
| Celebrity endorsement of the day | Celebrity endorsement of the day |
| Still undecided? Let a famous person persuade you. Actor Liam Neeson has said he’s for staying in: | Still undecided? Let a famous person persuade you. Actor Liam Neeson has said he’s for staying in: |
| A UK exit would have the worst ramifications for the island of Ireland … It would be truly a shame to sacrifice all the progress that has been made by the peace process regarding border controls … There is strength in unity. A Brexit vote will make us weak. | A UK exit would have the worst ramifications for the island of Ireland … It would be truly a shame to sacrifice all the progress that has been made by the peace process regarding border controls … There is strength in unity. A Brexit vote will make us weak. |
| Or how about King of Darts Bobby George? He’s for remain too. | Or how about King of Darts Bobby George? He’s for remain too. |
| And ex-footballer John Barnes came out fighting against claims by Michael Gove that he was a leaver – making what has been described by some as the most positive argument for immigration so far in this campaign: | And ex-footballer John Barnes came out fighting against claims by Michael Gove that he was a leaver – making what has been described by some as the most positive argument for immigration so far in this campaign: |
| Michael Gove says John Barnes is for Brexit, John Barnes calls us up and says absolutely not Michael Gove https://t.co/adA3QXzjWt | Michael Gove says John Barnes is for Brexit, John Barnes calls us up and says absolutely not Michael Gove https://t.co/adA3QXzjWt |
| The Channel 4 debate also chucks in a few leave celebs, with Selina Scott, DJ Mike Read (of Ukip calypso fame) and Gillian McKeith arguing for out. | The Channel 4 debate also chucks in a few leave celebs, with Selina Scott, DJ Mike Read (of Ukip calypso fame) and Gillian McKeith arguing for out. |
| The day in a tweet | The day in a tweet |
| Perhaps we could put it to a referendum? | Perhaps we could put it to a referendum? |
| All I want is a simple grand coalition headed by the dual premiership of @RuthDavidsonMSP and @SadiqKhan Is it SO DIFFICULT to arrange? | All I want is a simple grand coalition headed by the dual premiership of @RuthDavidsonMSP and @SadiqKhan Is it SO DIFFICULT to arrange? |
| If today were a film ... | If today were a film ... |
| It would be Independence Day. Either (if you’re for Brexit) the box office-busting original or (if you’re for staying or perhaps just very, very tired) the newly released sequel described by Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw as “planet-smashingly boring … on its way to crush our minds”. | It would be Independence Day. Either (if you’re for Brexit) the box office-busting original or (if you’re for staying or perhaps just very, very tired) the newly released sequel described by Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw as “planet-smashingly boring … on its way to crush our minds”. |
| And another thing | And another thing |
| Would you like to wake up to this briefing in your inbox every weekday (or as many weekdays as this campaign still has)? Sign up here. | Would you like to wake up to this briefing in your inbox every weekday (or as many weekdays as this campaign still has)? Sign up here. |
| Related: EU referendum morning briefing - sign up here | Related: EU referendum morning briefing - sign up here |