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Vote Leave accused of 'con' competition that lures voters to hand over personal data | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The campaign to leave the EU has been accused of a “con” after it launched a prize draw with a supposed one in eight billion chance of winning the top prize. | The campaign to leave the EU has been accused of a “con” after it launched a prize draw with a supposed one in eight billion chance of winning the top prize. |
The “50 million” competition asks people to hand over their personal details in exchange for a chance to win £50 million – if they guess the correct result of every match in the Euro 2016 tournament. | The “50 million” competition asks people to hand over their personal details in exchange for a chance to win £50 million – if they guess the correct result of every match in the Euro 2016 tournament. |
Bookmakers’ Ladbrokes say the chance of guessing multiple matches between the 24 teams in the tournaments group and knockout stages is eight billion to one. | Bookmakers’ Ladbrokes say the chance of guessing multiple matches between the 24 teams in the tournaments group and knockout stages is eight billion to one. |
To gain access to the prize draw, contestants give their mobile number, Facebook profile, and email address. | To gain access to the prize draw, contestants give their mobile number, Facebook profile, and email address. |
Access to such personal contact information might give Vote Leave an advantage on referendum day if it allows the campaign to effectively mobilise its vote. | Access to such personal contact information might give Vote Leave an advantage on referendum day if it allows the campaign to effectively mobilise its vote. |
Will Straw, executive director of Britain Stronger In Europe, said: “This competition is a con. The odds of winning this competition are 8 billion to one. The same length of odds as Vote Leave coming up with a coherent vision for what life would look like outside the EU. | Will Straw, executive director of Britain Stronger In Europe, said: “This competition is a con. The odds of winning this competition are 8 billion to one. The same length of odds as Vote Leave coming up with a coherent vision for what life would look like outside the EU. |
“Given the £50m figure is a work of fiction, this is a political Ponzi scheme with Dominic Cummings acting as Vote Leave’s Bernie Madoff. | “Given the £50m figure is a work of fiction, this is a political Ponzi scheme with Dominic Cummings acting as Vote Leave’s Bernie Madoff. |
“Once again Vote Leave put wild guesswork at the heart of their campaign and it is the British people who they are asking to take the risk.” | “Once again Vote Leave put wild guesswork at the heart of their campaign and it is the British people who they are asking to take the risk.” |
Vote Leave claims £50 million is the amount Britain pays the EU “every single day”. If no winner is found the closest entry would win £50,000, the campaign said. | Vote Leave claims £50 million is the amount Britain pays the EU “every single day”. If no winner is found the closest entry would win £50,000, the campaign said. |
It has previously been told to stop using the same £350 million a week figure by the UK Statistics Authority, which said it was “potentially misleading”. | It has previously been told to stop using the same £350 million a week figure by the UK Statistics Authority, which said it was “potentially misleading”. |
The figure does not take into account the British rebate and also does not take into account EU funding directed to Britain, or any other economic benefits. | The figure does not take into account the British rebate and also does not take into account EU funding directed to Britain, or any other economic benefits. |
The competition’s website says of the figure: “We chose £50 million as the big prize because that's how much of our money we hand over to the EU every single day! | The competition’s website says of the figure: “We chose £50 million as the big prize because that's how much of our money we hand over to the EU every single day! |
“That's a hell of a lot of money. What would you spend it on?” | “That's a hell of a lot of money. What would you spend it on?” |
Despite the £50 million figure’s dubious nature it appears to have entered the public consciousness – illustrated by exchanges with the audience during the first televised EU referendum debate last night. | Despite the £50 million figure’s dubious nature it appears to have entered the public consciousness – illustrated by exchanges with the audience during the first televised EU referendum debate last night. |
StrongerIn’s Alan Johnson protested against an audience member’s use of the figure, but she insisted it was correct, citing the former mayor of London Boris Johnson. | StrongerIn’s Alan Johnson protested against an audience member’s use of the figure, but she insisted it was correct, citing the former mayor of London Boris Johnson. |
The EU referendum takes place on 23 June this year. Phone polls suggest a significant lead for the Remain campaign, while online polls tend to suggest a neck-and-neck race. | The EU referendum takes place on 23 June this year. Phone polls suggest a significant lead for the Remain campaign, while online polls tend to suggest a neck-and-neck race. |
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