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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jun/08/eu-referendum-live-voter-registration-site-crashes-cameron-farage-debate
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| EU referendum: Emergency legislation will extend voter registration deadline to midnight Thursday | EU referendum: Emergency legislation will extend voter registration deadline to midnight Thursday |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.26pm BST | |
| 16:26 | |
| Raab says EU and ECJ are 'clear and present danger to our security' | |
| Dominic Raab, the justice minister, gave a Vote Leave speech this morning in which he described the EU and the European court of justice as as “clear and present danger to our security”. | |
| He explained: | |
| At the moment, we can’t bar anyone in possession of an EU passport or identity card unless they represent a “genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat” to our security. | |
| There’s two points here. | |
| First we are forced to rely on other EU government’s putting in place proper controls. | |
| And yet we already have a very serious problem with other EU states undermining proper border controls and effective passport checks. | |
| We have to admit EU citizens with residence cards, even though Frontex, the EU’s own external border agency, says these documents are forged on a systematic basis. | |
| The European Court has prevented us requiring persons from the EU to have documents issued by our government to come to the UK. | |
| EU law even forbids us from automatically refusing entry to people without any travel documents at all. | |
| But this is only the start of the problem. | |
| On your chair is a photocopy of a Cyprus estate agent journal, advertised particularly to Russians as the Russian text shows. | |
| This shows open, flagrant selling of EU passports. | |
| Once people buy these EU passports and with it citizenship of an EU member state, they have the automatic right to come to the UK because of ‘free movement’. | |
| Given this is already happening at scale, imagine how much worse this problem will be after the next wave of EU accessions. | |
| The second point concerns the substantive EU test for denial of entry and deportation. | |
| Even if that high threshold – a genuine, serious, present threat to our security - is met, we have to disclose the reasons to the individual barred, | |
| Even if that itself could endanger national security. | |
| We can’t just deny entry to someone, because they made an unexplained trip to Syria, | |
| Or because sketchy intelligence suggests a link to terrorist activity. | |
| We can’t even bar people from coming in, solely because they have a criminal record, even for murder. | |
| Yes, in the past ten years since the free movement directive entered into force, we have refused entry to around 11,000 people coming from the EU. | |
| But that compares with more than 200,000 barred from outside Europe, | |
| Who can be excluded simply because their presence is deemed not conducive to the public good ... | |
| It is now the EU and the Luxembourg court that present the clear and present danger to our security. | |
| They put their ivory tower dogma of EU free movement ahead of the safety of our citizens. | |
| 4.13pm BST | |
| 16:13 | |
| And here is the BBC’s Vicki Young with more evidence of Leave anger about the voter registration deadline being extended. | |
| Tory Brexiteer on decision to extend voter registration until midnight Thursday "there is no limit to the government's dishonesty" #EUref | |
| 4.12pm BST | |
| 16:12 | |
| Here’s Tim Bale, a politics professor, on James Forsyth’s tweet about the Leave camp conspiracy theory. (See 4.02pm.) | |
| Not sure which is more worrying - that they believe this b*ll*cks or that they are prepared to make it up. https://t.co/eIyYs9tf8Z | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.12pm BST | |
| 4.02pm BST | |
| 16:02 | |
| This is from the Spectator’s James Forsyth. | |
| Senior figures on Leave side think someone deliberately crashed electoral registration site. Say traffic level at 10.15pm implausibly high | |
| I have not heard this, but I have heard figures on the Leave said say they think the government is trying to use the voter registration mess to “extend the franchise”. Leave figures think that at most 50,000 people were unable to register to vote last night and that the government is dragging out the registration process for another 48 hours, and giving it maximum publicity today, to get more young people to register. Young people are more likely than old people to be unregistered, and more likely than old people to vote Remain if they do register. | |
| 3.51pm BST | 3.51pm BST |
| 15:51 | 15:51 |
| ITV’s Robert Peston has a good line from the Q&A after William Hague’s speech. | ITV’s Robert Peston has a good line from the Q&A after William Hague’s speech. |
| Hague: in Conservative Party there are eurosceptics who want to leave & eurosceptics who want to remain.There aren't really any other people | Hague: in Conservative Party there are eurosceptics who want to leave & eurosceptics who want to remain.There aren't really any other people |
| 3.47pm BST | 3.47pm BST |
| 15:47 | 15:47 |
| Peter Walker | Peter Walker |
| The Green MP Caroline Lucas has responded to Owen Paterson’s speech. She said: | The Green MP Caroline Lucas has responded to Owen Paterson’s speech. She said: |
| I’m as likely to ask Donald Trump for advice on race relations as I am to trust Owen Paterson on protecting our environment. | I’m as likely to ask Donald Trump for advice on race relations as I am to trust Owen Paterson on protecting our environment. |
| The simple fact is that the EU has been essential for environmental protection and that Owen Paterson is wrong to say that ‘environmentalism works best at local level’ – in fact it only works if problems are tackled at every level. | The simple fact is that the EU has been essential for environmental protection and that Owen Paterson is wrong to say that ‘environmentalism works best at local level’ – in fact it only works if problems are tackled at every level. |
| Challenges like air pollution, sewage in the seas and threats to migrating species don’t queue up politely at national borders, waiting for their passports to be checked. Indeed if we didn’t have the EU to bring together countries to work on these issues, then we’d have to invent it all over again. | Challenges like air pollution, sewage in the seas and threats to migrating species don’t queue up politely at national borders, waiting for their passports to be checked. Indeed if we didn’t have the EU to bring together countries to work on these issues, then we’d have to invent it all over again. |
| 3.44pm BST | 3.44pm BST |
| 15:44 | 15:44 |
| EU is bad for the environment, Paterson says | EU is bad for the environment, Paterson says |
| Peter Walker | Peter Walker |
| I’ve just watched the former environment secretary, Owen Paterson, make a speech which, according to the advance billing, would “tear apart the EU’s record on the environment”. That was a tough brief, but he did his best, arguing that the EU imposed too many “one size fits all” green remedies on countries. He was scathing about the idea that a vote for Remain was a vote for nature. | I’ve just watched the former environment secretary, Owen Paterson, make a speech which, according to the advance billing, would “tear apart the EU’s record on the environment”. That was a tough brief, but he did his best, arguing that the EU imposed too many “one size fits all” green remedies on countries. He was scathing about the idea that a vote for Remain was a vote for nature. |
| “It is nothing of the sort,” Paterson said. | “It is nothing of the sort,” Paterson said. |
| A vote for the EU is a vote for the continuation of the remote, insensitive bureaucracy that insists on deciding everything on a continental level, ignoring local environmental conditions and imposing clumsy regulations on matters which should be decided at the level of the nation state or below. | A vote for the EU is a vote for the continuation of the remote, insensitive bureaucracy that insists on deciding everything on a continental level, ignoring local environmental conditions and imposing clumsy regulations on matters which should be decided at the level of the nation state or below. |
| It was certainly a wide-ranging speech, taking in the great crested newt (Paterson says these are not threatened in the UK and so don’t need protection here), South Georgia (he sees the island’s environmental policies as a future model for Britain) and the Pitcairn Islands (the UK has recently created the world’s largest marine reserve around them). | It was certainly a wide-ranging speech, taking in the great crested newt (Paterson says these are not threatened in the UK and so don’t need protection here), South Georgia (he sees the island’s environmental policies as a future model for Britain) and the Pitcairn Islands (the UK has recently created the world’s largest marine reserve around them). |
| It also contained what is certainly the best quote of the campaign so far about the EU’s fisheries policy: “The sheer insanity of this is incomprehensible unless you see it yourself, with a haddock in your hand.” | It also contained what is certainly the best quote of the campaign so far about the EU’s fisheries policy: “The sheer insanity of this is incomprehensible unless you see it yourself, with a haddock in your hand.” |
| I seemed to be the only member of the media there, so it fell to me to ask Paterson whether he could be trusted as a self-styled champion of the environment given the chilly reaction from environmental groups to his time as environment minister. He insisted this was unfair, arguing that some of the bigger green organisations get EU funding and so are hardly neutral. | I seemed to be the only member of the media there, so it fell to me to ask Paterson whether he could be trusted as a self-styled champion of the environment given the chilly reaction from environmental groups to his time as environment minister. He insisted this was unfair, arguing that some of the bigger green organisations get EU funding and so are hardly neutral. |
| Owen Paterson speaking now on environment policy after #Brexit pic.twitter.com/La2zpYDIMP | Owen Paterson speaking now on environment policy after #Brexit pic.twitter.com/La2zpYDIMP |
| 3.37pm BST | 3.37pm BST |
| 15:37 | 15:37 |
| The Electoral Commission has welcomed Matthew Hancock’s announcement about extending the voter registration deadline. (See 3.23pm.) Alex Robertson, its director of communications, said: | The Electoral Commission has welcomed Matthew Hancock’s announcement about extending the voter registration deadline. (See 3.23pm.) Alex Robertson, its director of communications, said: |
| No one should miss out on voting in this historic referendum because of the problem with the government’s registration website last night. We said this morning that legislation should be introduced to extend the registration deadline and we’re pleased the government will now be making this change. | No one should miss out on voting in this historic referendum because of the problem with the government’s registration website last night. We said this morning that legislation should be introduced to extend the registration deadline and we’re pleased the government will now be making this change. |
| We are urging everyone who is not already registered to vote to take this last chance to do so before the end of Thursday. | We are urging everyone who is not already registered to vote to take this last chance to do so before the end of Thursday. |
| 3.33pm BST | 3.33pm BST |
| 15:33 | 15:33 |
| Hague says Vote Leave economic claims are 'total fantasy' | Hague says Vote Leave economic claims are 'total fantasy' |
| William Hague, the Conservative former foreign secretary and former party leader, gave a speech on the EU referendum earlier this afternoon. Here are the key points. | William Hague, the Conservative former foreign secretary and former party leader, gave a speech on the EU referendum earlier this afternoon. Here are the key points. |
| The idea that we can leave the EU without any serious economic consequences for jobs and businesses in Britain, and somehow have more money to spend on the NHS and other services at the same time, is a total fantasy, and people need to know that before they vote. | The idea that we can leave the EU without any serious economic consequences for jobs and businesses in Britain, and somehow have more money to spend on the NHS and other services at the same time, is a total fantasy, and people need to know that before they vote. |
| I’m the first to say Europe isn’t perfect. I’ve spent my political life standing up to it. But for all its imperfections, it protects jobs and boosts our standing and power in the world. Let me tell you straight, as someone who’s an outright eurosceptic, leaving the European Union would be downright irresponsible. | I’m the first to say Europe isn’t perfect. I’ve spent my political life standing up to it. But for all its imperfections, it protects jobs and boosts our standing and power in the world. Let me tell you straight, as someone who’s an outright eurosceptic, leaving the European Union would be downright irresponsible. |
| There are two things that such investors hate most: a prolonged period of uncertainty and definitely losing an advantage they have long enjoyed. Leaving the European single market would produce exactly those two things. With fifteen days to go to the referendum, there is no sign of any agreement, consensus, worked-up proposal, clear scenario or even coherent idea about what we would try to negotiate if we left the EU, let alone how we would succeed in it. | There are two things that such investors hate most: a prolonged period of uncertainty and definitely losing an advantage they have long enjoyed. Leaving the European single market would produce exactly those two things. With fifteen days to go to the referendum, there is no sign of any agreement, consensus, worked-up proposal, clear scenario or even coherent idea about what we would try to negotiate if we left the EU, let alone how we would succeed in it. |
| Leave campaigners have tried to reassure people that all of this would end in a satisfactory negotiation: Germans, they say, would have no interest in imposing vengeful tariffs on the UK when they sell even more to us than we do to them. However, this bland assurance overlooks three crucial points. | Leave campaigners have tried to reassure people that all of this would end in a satisfactory negotiation: Germans, they say, would have no interest in imposing vengeful tariffs on the UK when they sell even more to us than we do to them. However, this bland assurance overlooks three crucial points. |
| The first is that the main problem for many businesses once we were outside the single market would not just be tariffs but all the bureaucracy of customs and the uncertainty of future tariffs. | The first is that the main problem for many businesses once we were outside the single market would not just be tariffs but all the bureaucracy of customs and the uncertainty of future tariffs. |
| The second is that Germany and the rest of the EU would have no incentive to strike an easy trade deal with any nation leaving the union because of the attraction it might hold for others. And some countries would have every interest in using the opportunity to persuade international businesses located in Britain, such as in financial services, to move their operations or headquarters. | The second is that Germany and the rest of the EU would have no incentive to strike an easy trade deal with any nation leaving the union because of the attraction it might hold for others. And some countries would have every interest in using the opportunity to persuade international businesses located in Britain, such as in financial services, to move their operations or headquarters. |
| The third point is that once the UK has served notice under article 50 of our intention to leave the union, the treaties provide for two years to negotiate the arrangements for withdrawal, extendable only by unanimous agreement. There would be far greater pressure on the UK, because of all the uncertainties surrounding investment decisions, to conclude the negotiations within the two years than there would be on the rest of the EU. As everybody knows, even from buying a house or a car, the side under the greatest time pressure is in the weakest negotiating position. | The third point is that once the UK has served notice under article 50 of our intention to leave the union, the treaties provide for two years to negotiate the arrangements for withdrawal, extendable only by unanimous agreement. There would be far greater pressure on the UK, because of all the uncertainties surrounding investment decisions, to conclude the negotiations within the two years than there would be on the rest of the EU. As everybody knows, even from buying a house or a car, the side under the greatest time pressure is in the weakest negotiating position. |
| 3.23pm BST | 3.23pm BST |
| 15:23 | 15:23 |
| Matthew Hancock has also issued this statement. | Matthew Hancock has also issued this statement. |
| Following discussions with the Electoral Commission and strong cross party support expressed in the House of Commons, we will introduce secondary legislation to extend the deadline for voter registration until midnight tomorrow. Having taken the decision today, we think it is right to extend to midnight tomorrow (9 June) to allow people who have not yet registered time to get the message that registration is still open and get themselves registered. | Following discussions with the Electoral Commission and strong cross party support expressed in the House of Commons, we will introduce secondary legislation to extend the deadline for voter registration until midnight tomorrow. Having taken the decision today, we think it is right to extend to midnight tomorrow (9 June) to allow people who have not yet registered time to get the message that registration is still open and get themselves registered. |
| 3.22pm BST | 3.22pm BST |
| 15:22 | 15:22 |
| Voter registration deadline extended until midnight tomorrow | Voter registration deadline extended until midnight tomorrow |
| Matthew Hancock, the Cabinet Office, has announced that the voter registration deadline will be extended until midnight tomorrow. | Matthew Hancock, the Cabinet Office, has announced that the voter registration deadline will be extended until midnight tomorrow. |
| Delighted at huge voter registration levels. Due to technical problems with the website yesterday we'll extend deadline to midnight tomorrow | Delighted at huge voter registration levels. Due to technical problems with the website yesterday we'll extend deadline to midnight tomorrow |
| 3.05pm BST | 3.05pm BST |
| 15:05 | 15:05 |
| Jeremy Corbyn is going to do a TV event with Sky on the EU referendum, it has been announced. | Jeremy Corbyn is going to do a TV event with Sky on the EU referendum, it has been announced. |
| Labour leader @jeremycorbyn will do a live TV event on @skynews with young voters... Chaired by me Jun 20th | Labour leader @jeremycorbyn will do a live TV event on @skynews with young voters... Chaired by me Jun 20th |