John Baron MP: Government is ‘playing with fire’ over EU Leaflet

MP says ‘unfair’ referendum may not settle the issue

The Government is spending £9.3 million on a leaflet advocating a ‘remain’ vote in the forthcoming referendum, which will be sent to 27 million households across the United Kingdom. Though outside the formal ‘purdah’ period ahead of the referendum, many feel this nevertheless breaks the spirit of the rules, and hands those advocating ‘remain’ an unfair advantage. The Electoral Commission has criticised the Government’s actions, and issuing the leaflet goes against undertakings by Government Ministers last year [please see ‘Notes to Editors’].

John said,

“The Government is playing with fire. Having waited so long for an EU referendum, it is essential that people do not doubt the fairness of the result. If they do, then the referendum may not settle the issue – particularly if it is a close vote in favour of remaining.”

“Having led the campaign in the last Parliament for a referendum in this, my hope was for a meaningful and fair debate which would settle the issue one way or another for a generation. The danger now created by the Government is that this is less likely the more the referendum is deemed unfair.”

“The Government needs to explain why it is reneging on its undertakings not to issue such a leaflet, not least because £9.3 million is much larger than the £7 million limit on campaign spending during purdah. This is not acceptable.”

Notes to Editors:

• Rt Hon David Lidington MP, the Minister for Europe, will give a Statement in the House of Commons on this subject this afternoon.
• The Electoral Commission has stated that, ‘We don’t think the Government should have done it…[it gives ‘remain’ an] unfair advantage…[and] undermines the principle [of spending limits]’.
• Furthermore, on 9th June 2015, the Foreign Secretary told Parliament, ‘the campaigns…will receive a number of benefits, including a public grant and eligibility to make a referendum broadcast and to send a free mailshot to voters. I can assure the House that the Government have no intention of undermining those campaigns’.
• On 7th September 2015, the Minister for Europe also stated, ‘We have no intention of legislating to allow the Government to do things such as mailshots, paid advertising or leafleting’.