David Cameron has defended his decision to spend £9 million in public funds on sending a pro-EU booklet to every household in Britain, claiming it was not only legal but "necessary and right". Leave campaigners expressed outrage over the mailshot, describing the action as unfair and an inappropriate use of public funds.
Speaking to university students in Exeter, Mr Cameron said he made no apology for the 14-page booklet, arguing that voters needed to know the government’s position on the forthcoming EU referendum.
“We are not neutral in this. We think it would be a bad decision to leave. We think it would be bad for our economy, bad for jobs, bad for investment, bad for families’ finances,” he said.
“I don’t want anyone to go to the polls not knowing what the government thinks, and I think that is money well spent. It is not, in my view, just legal – I think is it necessary and right.”
Each side in the referendum campaign will receive £7 million in public funds to make their case but the government's mailshot will be paid for separately from taxpayer funds. Leave campaigners said that, even if the government-funded booklet was legal, it was unfair. Justice secretary Michael Gove, who is campaigning for Britain to leave the EU, said it was wrong to spend such a large sum on "one-sided propaganda" at a time of austerity.
"I want a fair campaign, I want people to hear from both sides, but what I think is wrong is spending £9 million of taxpayers' money on one particular piece of one-sided propaganda. I think it is wrong that money that should be spent on priorities like the NHS is being spent on Euro-propaganda," he said.
The electoral commission, which is responsible for ensuring that the referendum is conducted fairly, said on Thursday that the government was acting within the rules. For 28 days before the June 23rd referendum, the government will be prohibited from using public money to promote one side.
The commission originally recommended a restriction on spending from the start of a “regulated period”, beginning on April 15th, but the government rejected that proposal.
Former home secretary Alan Johnson, who is leading Labour's campaign to remain in the EU, accused pro-Brexit cabinet ministers of putting Northern Ireland's political progress at risk.
Speaking during a pro-EU campaign visit to the North, Mr Johnson singled out Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, who is campaigning to leave the EU.
“Northern Ireland’s ability to access the single market, coupled with the success of the Good Friday agreement, has brought about economic development for Northern Ireland as well as enhanced economic co-operation between North and South in Ireland,” he said.
