Author Archives: Lib Dem Member

Coalition 2.0: The EU Referendum

By Lib Dem Member | Mon 13th June 2016 - 3:32 pm

Coalition: painful for us Lib Dems at times, but this isn’t about the last parliament, it’s about the referendum. Over the last few weeks’ economists, historians, scientists and celebrities have emerged, arguing the benefits of our membership of the EU. However, recent polls indicate increased support for Brexit; prompting calls for all campaigns to up their game.

But something else is happening; Brexit campaigners are making more extreme claims as the debate goes on. Farage telling his supporters to ‘go out and bully them’, Boris Johnson accusing the EU of excessive banana regulation, Diane James’ claim of ‘we just don’t know’ when asked about border controls and, of course, the £350 million bus – to name a few. This isn’t surprising, the UKIP machine has driven this referendum from day one and they will throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at it. For Boris Johnson, this campaign is a career test; as a serial risk taker he too, will throw everything at it.