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Iain Duncan Smith accuses pro-EU Tories of 'smears and threats' Iain Duncan Smith accuses pro-EU Tories of 'smears and threats'
(35 minutes later)
Iain Duncan Smith has deepened divisions in the government over Europe by questioning the integrity of cabinet colleagues campaigning to remain in the EU and accusing them of “spin, smears and threats” that will have consequences beyond the referendum.Iain Duncan Smith has deepened divisions in the government over Europe by questioning the integrity of cabinet colleagues campaigning to remain in the EU and accusing them of “spin, smears and threats” that will have consequences beyond the referendum.
The Eurosceptic work and pensions secretary accused the in campaign of trying to “bully” the public with “scaremongering”.The Eurosceptic work and pensions secretary accused the in campaign of trying to “bully” the public with “scaremongering”.
In an article for the Daily Mail, which received the strong backing of former defence secretary Liam Fox on Friday morning, Duncan Smith suggested that the tactics used by his colleagues would make it difficult for him to remain in government. In an article for the Daily Mail, which received the strong backing of former defence secretary Liam Fox on Friday morning, Duncan Smith suggested the tactics used by his colleagues would make it difficult for him to remain in government.
“The acrimonious manner in which all this has been conducted is troubling and will I fear have consequences beyond June 23,” he wrote.“The acrimonious manner in which all this has been conducted is troubling and will I fear have consequences beyond June 23,” he wrote.
A former Tory minister accused Duncan Smith of “whining” that was “beneath him”.A former Tory minister accused Duncan Smith of “whining” that was “beneath him”.
IDS grt friend am huge admirer of his vision in pushing thru Welfare Reform but this whining about smears and spin beneath him #getagripIDS grt friend am huge admirer of his vision in pushing thru Welfare Reform but this whining about smears and spin beneath him #getagrip
And the Welsh Tory MP Guto Bebb accused Duncan Smith of launching “Project Hysteria”.And the Welsh Tory MP Guto Bebb accused Duncan Smith of launching “Project Hysteria”.
IDS launches Project Hysteria to counter what he claims to be 'Project Fear'. #strongerINIDS launches Project Hysteria to counter what he claims to be 'Project Fear'. #strongerIN
But Fox echoed Duncan Smith’s comments, warning that “ill-spelt-out sinister threats” by the in campaign would make government more difficult after the vote.But Fox echoed Duncan Smith’s comments, warning that “ill-spelt-out sinister threats” by the in campaign would make government more difficult after the vote.
“We will have to come back together to govern the country after the 24 June. The difficulty that we face is that if the arguments have been ramped up too much, that will become harder for us,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.“We will have to come back together to govern the country after the 24 June. The difficulty that we face is that if the arguments have been ramped up too much, that will become harder for us,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
He added: “The whole point about Project Fear is that it has to be credible. The sort of cases we’ve had: you’ll not get cheap flights, children’s books won’t get published, you’ll not get rescued if you’re stranded abroad, this is all nonsense.”He added: “The whole point about Project Fear is that it has to be credible. The sort of cases we’ve had: you’ll not get cheap flights, children’s books won’t get published, you’ll not get rescued if you’re stranded abroad, this is all nonsense.”
Asked whether it would be possible to form a workable government after the row, Fox said: “I don’t think [it would be] unworkable, but at all points we need to say, ‘Let’s make the arguments in a responsible and reasonable way.’”Asked whether it would be possible to form a workable government after the row, Fox said: “I don’t think [it would be] unworkable, but at all points we need to say, ‘Let’s make the arguments in a responsible and reasonable way.’”
He added: “We just need to not allow that passion in the debate over Britain’s future to spill into our personal relations.”He added: “We just need to not allow that passion in the debate over Britain’s future to spill into our personal relations.”
Related: François Hollande warns Calais camps could move to BritainRelated: François Hollande warns Calais camps could move to Britain
In his article Duncan Smith criticised the pro-EU camp’s case as being supported by a “nightmare” image of Britain’s chances outside the EU, with “biblical consequences” resulting from a vote to leave.In his article Duncan Smith criticised the pro-EU camp’s case as being supported by a “nightmare” image of Britain’s chances outside the EU, with “biblical consequences” resulting from a vote to leave.
He accused the government and the remain campaign of staging a “series of stunts” using big business, finance chiefs and European leaders to “bully” those considering a vote to leave into fearing for their future prosperity and security.He accused the government and the remain campaign of staging a “series of stunts” using big business, finance chiefs and European leaders to “bully” those considering a vote to leave into fearing for their future prosperity and security.
He wrote: “The remain campaign’s case seems almost wholly based on what they describe as the nightmare of leaving.He wrote: “The remain campaign’s case seems almost wholly based on what they describe as the nightmare of leaving.
“This case has in whole or in part become characterised by spin, smears and threats ... In the last fortnight we have had a series of highly questionable dossiers – threatening almost biblical consequences if we dare to consider a future outside of the European Union. “This case has in whole or in part become characterised by spin, smears and threats … In the last fortnight we have had a series of highly questionable dossiers – threatening almost biblical consequences if we dare to consider a future outside of the European Union.
“We’ve seen a series of stunts, whereby big businesses, big banks, and powerful politicians from other EU member states seek to bully the British people into believing their jobs and security are at risk.”“We’ve seen a series of stunts, whereby big businesses, big banks, and powerful politicians from other EU member states seek to bully the British people into believing their jobs and security are at risk.”
Duncan Smith made the comments after the French president, François Hollande, warned of the “consequences in many areas” should Britain choose to leave the EU.Duncan Smith made the comments after the French president, François Hollande, warned of the “consequences in many areas” should Britain choose to leave the EU.
On Wednesday it emerged BMW’s chief executive, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, had written to Rolls-Royce employees indicating that its “employment base” could be affected if Britain went outside the EU.On Wednesday it emerged BMW’s chief executive, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, had written to Rolls-Royce employees indicating that its “employment base” could be affected if Britain went outside the EU.
Duncan Smith warned against painting Eurosceptic thinking as “heretical and dangerous” as he expressed fears over the after-effects of an embittered referendum campaign.Duncan Smith warned against painting Eurosceptic thinking as “heretical and dangerous” as he expressed fears over the after-effects of an embittered referendum campaign.
“Such desperate and unsubstantiated claims are now being made that they begin to damage the very integrity of those who make them in the eyes of the public,” he said.“Such desperate and unsubstantiated claims are now being made that they begin to damage the very integrity of those who make them in the eyes of the public,” he said.
Meanwhile the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign is to launch an initiative to encourage young people to persuade their grandparents to vote to stay in the EU.Meanwhile the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign is to launch an initiative to encourage young people to persuade their grandparents to vote to stay in the EU.
The education minister Sam Gyimah told the Times: “The way for this campaign to really come alive is to have grandparents talking to their children and grandchildren about the future of this country.” The education minister, Sam Gyimah, told the Times: “The way for this campaign to really come alive is to have grandparents talking to their children and grandchildren about the future of this country.”
Polls used by the Times suggested almost seven in 10 pensioners wanted to leave the EU, while young people were more likely to be pro-European, but less likely to cast a vote.Polls used by the Times suggested almost seven in 10 pensioners wanted to leave the EU, while young people were more likely to be pro-European, but less likely to cast a vote.
“The referendum matters for this generation in particular because they have got more of their life ahead of them,” Gyimah said.“The referendum matters for this generation in particular because they have got more of their life ahead of them,” Gyimah said.