26/05/2016

Download Subtitles

Transcript

0:00:02 > 0:00:03This is Question Time.

0:00:11 > 0:00:13Good evening and welcome, whether you're watching on TV,

0:00:13 > 0:00:17listening on Radio 5 Live, here in the audience.

0:00:17 > 0:00:18Welcome to our panel.

0:00:18 > 0:00:21Tonight, the former leader of the Labour Party, Ed Miliband,

0:00:21 > 0:00:23in his first appearance on Question Time

0:00:23 > 0:00:25since last year's election.

0:00:25 > 0:00:27The Conservative former Europe Minister

0:00:27 > 0:00:32and chairman of the party, campaigning for Brexit, David Davis.

0:00:32 > 0:00:36The Green Party's former and maybe future, leader,

0:00:36 > 0:00:38Caroline Lucas.

0:00:38 > 0:00:40David Cameron's close political ally for many years,

0:00:40 > 0:00:44maybe slightly less now that he's urging Brexit,

0:00:44 > 0:00:45Steve Hilton.

0:00:45 > 0:00:47And the crime writer with nine novels to her credit

0:00:47 > 0:00:50and a Guardian columnist to boot, Dreda Say Mitchell.

0:00:52 > 0:00:54APPLAUSE

0:01:05 > 0:01:06Good, thank you very much

0:01:06 > 0:01:08and just before we take our first question,

0:01:08 > 0:01:10remember, as ever, Facebook,

0:01:10 > 0:01:13Twitter, texting 83981...

0:01:13 > 0:01:16If you want to comment on anything that's said here -

0:01:16 > 0:01:20do that and everybody will get to hear your views.

0:01:20 > 0:01:22Now, if I can find the questions, which I have,

0:01:22 > 0:01:25our first question tonight is from Mary Bird, please.

0:01:25 > 0:01:27- Mary Bird.- Hello.

0:01:27 > 0:01:33In light of the EU migration figures published today,

0:01:33 > 0:01:38how on earth are our public services going to cope?

0:01:38 > 0:01:39Ed Miliband.

0:01:40 > 0:01:43Well, Mary, I think they can cope

0:01:43 > 0:01:46but I think it obviously means that there are stresses and strains.

0:01:46 > 0:01:49And this goes to the bigger question

0:01:49 > 0:01:51of whether we should be within the European Union,

0:01:51 > 0:01:54remain, or leave.

0:01:54 > 0:01:56I understand people have concerns about immigration

0:01:56 > 0:01:59but you have to look at the balance of the argument, here.

0:01:59 > 0:02:02And it seems to me the balance of the argument is this -

0:02:02 > 0:02:04we know from official figures

0:02:04 > 0:02:07that people who come here from the European Union contribute

0:02:07 > 0:02:10about £2.5 billion more

0:02:10 > 0:02:13in terms of taxes than they claim in benefits.

0:02:13 > 0:02:15We know we've got 100,000 people from the EU

0:02:15 > 0:02:18working in our public services, which you asked about.

0:02:18 > 0:02:21- Now, on the other side... - Excuse me.

0:02:21 > 0:02:23I'm talking about schools, hospitals,

0:02:23 > 0:02:25the transport system,

0:02:25 > 0:02:27that's what I am talking about.

0:02:27 > 0:02:29- Yeah, and there are... - They are heaving.

0:02:29 > 0:02:31And there are 250,000 people from the EU

0:02:31 > 0:02:33propping up our schools and our hospitals

0:02:33 > 0:02:35and our social care systems.

0:02:35 > 0:02:38APPLAUSE

0:02:38 > 0:02:44But...but, Mary, I hear it in my own constituency.

0:02:44 > 0:02:45I don't deny there are pressures,

0:02:45 > 0:02:48but I ask you and the audience to think about this.

0:02:48 > 0:02:52First of all, economically, we are better off in the European Union.

0:02:52 > 0:02:56The Institute for Fiscal Studies, a respected independent think-tank -

0:02:56 > 0:02:57not the Government,

0:02:57 > 0:02:59not the Governor of the Bank of England -

0:02:59 > 0:03:03said this week there would be a £20-£40 billion black hole

0:03:03 > 0:03:04in our public finances if we left.

0:03:04 > 0:03:07Now, the question for you and the audience is -

0:03:07 > 0:03:09and this is, I think, the answer -

0:03:09 > 0:03:12let's use the money we get from being in the European Union,

0:03:12 > 0:03:15the extra taxes, to relieve the pressures on public services

0:03:15 > 0:03:18in Ipswich and elsewhere, but for goodness' sake,

0:03:18 > 0:03:21let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater,

0:03:21 > 0:03:23leave the European Union, and make us worse off,

0:03:23 > 0:03:25because that's, I believe, what would happen.

0:03:25 > 0:03:28APPLAUSE

0:03:30 > 0:03:31On the Remain side, just briefly,

0:03:31 > 0:03:34are you embarrassed by the figures that came out,

0:03:34 > 0:03:36showing the second-highest on record this year?

0:03:36 > 0:03:39- No.- You're not embarrassed by it? - Embarrassed?

0:03:39 > 0:03:41You don't think it's difficult for the campaign, no?

0:03:41 > 0:03:43- No.- All right, fine...

0:03:43 > 0:03:46I think it is an important point, because I am the son of immigrants.

0:03:46 > 0:03:48My parents came here as refugees

0:03:48 > 0:03:50from the Nazis, from Europe,

0:03:50 > 0:03:53from Belgium - my dad in 1940,

0:03:53 > 0:03:57my mum, from Poland, after the Second World War.

0:03:57 > 0:03:58They were European migrants.

0:03:58 > 0:04:02They've made a contribution to this country. And, look...

0:04:02 > 0:04:05So I think immigration has benefits. I think people make contributions.

0:04:05 > 0:04:08We've got to use the extra income generated

0:04:08 > 0:04:11to relieve the pressures that people here and elsewhere face.

0:04:11 > 0:04:13You've said that. David Davis.

0:04:13 > 0:04:14Well, he should be worried.

0:04:14 > 0:04:18I mean, this country has been welcoming to migrants

0:04:18 > 0:04:20for decades, centuries,

0:04:20 > 0:04:23as, indeed, Ed indicates,

0:04:23 > 0:04:25but welcoming to them in numbers

0:04:25 > 0:04:27which we can cope with.

0:04:27 > 0:04:32And 300,000-odd net migration every year,

0:04:32 > 0:04:34a new city every year...

0:04:34 > 0:04:36The questioner is quite right, Mary is quite right,

0:04:36 > 0:04:41it overwhelms the ability of schools, hospitals, housing,

0:04:41 > 0:04:44which we cannot change very fast, is overwhelmed.

0:04:44 > 0:04:47Young people can't afford houses as a result.

0:04:47 > 0:04:49Ed says it makes more money.

0:04:49 > 0:04:53Well, I'm afraid these numbers don't stand up.

0:04:53 > 0:04:58Those numbers are based on the very real and proper calculation

0:04:58 > 0:05:00that most migrants come here to work,

0:05:00 > 0:05:03they don't come here to be dependent on benefits.

0:05:03 > 0:05:05So that calculation of how much benefit is claimed,

0:05:05 > 0:05:08how much tax is paid, on that basis, is right.

0:05:08 > 0:05:10But it does not take on board all the extra public services,

0:05:10 > 0:05:13it doesn't take on board all the extra transport,

0:05:13 > 0:05:14it doesn't take on board

0:05:14 > 0:05:17all the other pressures on society that it creates.

0:05:17 > 0:05:19That is not the fault of the migrant.

0:05:19 > 0:05:21If I were Romanian, I'd be here now.

0:05:21 > 0:05:24If I was a Greek, a young Greek, I'd be here now,

0:05:24 > 0:05:25cos this is where the jobs are.

0:05:25 > 0:05:27But it's the Government's responsibility

0:05:27 > 0:05:30and this is out of control - full stop.

0:05:30 > 0:05:32This is out of control.

0:05:32 > 0:05:37What the Government ought to do is to get this back in control

0:05:37 > 0:05:38for the interests of the country

0:05:38 > 0:05:41and, frankly, also for the interests of many of the migrants

0:05:41 > 0:05:45and the only way that can be done is by leaving the European Union.

0:05:45 > 0:05:47APPLAUSE

0:05:57 > 0:05:59Caroline Lucas.

0:05:59 > 0:06:02Well, in economic terms alone, if you leave the European Union,

0:06:02 > 0:06:06you are looking at a massive loss of economic wealth to this country,

0:06:06 > 0:06:07you're looking at a loss of jobs

0:06:07 > 0:06:09and we can argue how much that figure is,

0:06:09 > 0:06:11there are different estimates out there,

0:06:11 > 0:06:14but when you've got everybody from the OECD to the IMF

0:06:14 > 0:06:16to the Bank of England, all of them saying

0:06:16 > 0:06:19that there will be a net economic loss to Britain

0:06:19 > 0:06:20if we leave the single market,

0:06:20 > 0:06:23then I think that's something that should give us pause.

0:06:23 > 0:06:26But, you know, I don't want to sit here apologising for the fact

0:06:26 > 0:06:30that membership of the EU gives us free movement of people.

0:06:30 > 0:06:32I want to sit here and actually celebrate it

0:06:32 > 0:06:34and I appreciate that might be controversial...

0:06:34 > 0:06:37APPLAUSE

0:06:37 > 0:06:40But I think there is something rather amazing

0:06:40 > 0:06:44about having the choice, for those people that do have a choice,

0:06:44 > 0:06:47to be able to live and love and work and retire

0:06:47 > 0:06:48in 28 different member states.

0:06:48 > 0:06:52We know, of course, that many British people make the most of that

0:06:52 > 0:06:55by going to Spain and many other parts of the EU,

0:06:55 > 0:06:57just as people come to our country.

0:06:57 > 0:06:59I do accept that the costs and benefits

0:06:59 > 0:07:03are not terribly equally spread across the UK,

0:07:03 > 0:07:04which is why I agree with Ed

0:07:04 > 0:07:06that we need some kind of immigration dividend,

0:07:06 > 0:07:09or a solidarity fund, whatever we want to call it.

0:07:09 > 0:07:12But given that there is a net benefit that people are bringing,

0:07:12 > 0:07:16not just in terms of our communities and our culture,

0:07:16 > 0:07:17but a net economic benefit,

0:07:17 > 0:07:20then let us use that money to be able to invest in the services

0:07:20 > 0:07:22in areas that are under pressure.

0:07:22 > 0:07:23So you think, in reply to Mary,

0:07:23 > 0:07:26your view is that the public services can be funded properly?

0:07:26 > 0:07:29I think if the political will is there, of course they can.

0:07:29 > 0:07:32But we can also look at parts of the country where, right now...

0:07:32 > 0:07:36We have such centralisation in London and the south-east

0:07:36 > 0:07:39that that puts pressure, irrespective of immigration.

0:07:39 > 0:07:42If we had a more balanced regional policy across the country,

0:07:42 > 0:07:44I think we could have all the benefits

0:07:44 > 0:07:46and have less pressure as well.

0:07:46 > 0:07:49Let's hear from the audience, then I'll come back to our panel.

0:07:49 > 0:07:51APPLAUSE

0:07:51 > 0:07:55The woman there, in orange, or pink, is it? There - you, madam.

0:07:55 > 0:08:00Is it because the economic union is not working,

0:08:00 > 0:08:02the European Union is not working,

0:08:02 > 0:08:09that there are so many people that are out of work in Europe?

0:08:09 > 0:08:11It's a broken club,

0:08:11 > 0:08:14that so many people are actually coming to Britain.

0:08:14 > 0:08:18- You think the outfit isn't delivering?- Yeah.

0:08:18 > 0:08:19Let's hold on to that point.

0:08:19 > 0:08:21You in the blue shirt on the gangway.

0:08:21 > 0:08:23Hold on a second, we'll get a microphone to you.

0:08:23 > 0:08:27I don't think the debate about immigration in the EU

0:08:27 > 0:08:30should be about numbers or economic immigrants,

0:08:30 > 0:08:34if they benefit the UK or not - it should be about the choice,

0:08:34 > 0:08:38and if we have the choice to control our immigration policy.

0:08:38 > 0:08:40Even if we left the EU,

0:08:40 > 0:08:43we could then choose whether or not we had mass migration.

0:08:43 > 0:08:46If we elected a government

0:08:46 > 0:08:50with a policy of immigration of hundreds of thousands, fine.

0:08:50 > 0:08:51But at the minute, as a member of the EU,

0:08:51 > 0:08:53we don't have that choice.

0:08:53 > 0:08:55OK. Steve Hilton.

0:08:55 > 0:08:58Like Ed, I am very pro-immigration,

0:08:58 > 0:09:01and I suspect also because, like Ed,

0:09:01 > 0:09:03my parents were immigrants to this country.

0:09:03 > 0:09:06I owe everything I have, all my opportunities,

0:09:06 > 0:09:09to the fact that this country welcomed my parents.

0:09:09 > 0:09:12I am also an immigrant now from this country to America,

0:09:12 > 0:09:14so I am very pro-immigration.

0:09:14 > 0:09:16But precisely because of that,

0:09:16 > 0:09:19I think we should be completely open on immigration.

0:09:19 > 0:09:22Let me explain what I mean by that.

0:09:22 > 0:09:24It is clearly common sense

0:09:24 > 0:09:29that we can't have unlimited numbers of people coming to this country.

0:09:29 > 0:09:31We all agree there has to be a limit,

0:09:31 > 0:09:35there has to be a certain number beyond which it is not sustainable,

0:09:35 > 0:09:36as we have heard.

0:09:36 > 0:09:40So the question is, who comes within that limit?

0:09:40 > 0:09:42What we have right now, through being in the EU,

0:09:42 > 0:09:46is a situation where we have unlimited numbers of people

0:09:46 > 0:09:49coming from Europe without any say or control over it.

0:09:49 > 0:09:51What that means is that actually,

0:09:51 > 0:09:54we are shutting the doors to people from beyond Europe

0:09:54 > 0:09:58that could be fantastically valuable contributors

0:09:58 > 0:09:59to our economy and our society,

0:09:59 > 0:10:02people from China, or India,

0:10:02 > 0:10:05entrepreneurs and scientists from all around the world

0:10:05 > 0:10:06who are shut out because we have to take,

0:10:06 > 0:10:10as I've put it, unlimited numbers of Hungarian waiters.

0:10:10 > 0:10:13Now, I have got nothing against Hungarians,

0:10:13 > 0:10:14cos I am one.

0:10:14 > 0:10:19But the truth is, we should be able to decide who comes to our country.

0:10:19 > 0:10:21That should be a choice for us,

0:10:21 > 0:10:25and as long as we are in the EU, it is a choice we can't make.

0:10:25 > 0:10:29So you are saying the wrong kind of immigrants are coming?

0:10:29 > 0:10:32I think it is a fundamentally undemocratic situation

0:10:32 > 0:10:35where something as important as this is out of our control.

0:10:35 > 0:10:37APPLAUSE

0:10:42 > 0:10:44I am with you, Steve, completely...

0:10:44 > 0:10:46Hold on a second - OK. Dreda.

0:10:46 > 0:10:49I'm with you completely. You know, we're all here,

0:10:49 > 0:10:52it seems like we're all the children of migrants.

0:10:52 > 0:10:54But when my parents came here in the '60s,

0:10:54 > 0:10:56I would say they were quite unskilled.

0:10:56 > 0:10:59So are you saying my parents shouldn't have come here?

0:10:59 > 0:11:02Cos they weren't a doctor, they weren't a nurse.

0:11:02 > 0:11:05Both my parents left school before they were...

0:11:05 > 0:11:07My dad left school before he was 15.

0:11:07 > 0:11:12- Would you bar the door to my dad? - I think that we need to have...

0:11:12 > 0:11:14APPLAUSE

0:11:14 > 0:11:15It's a great question

0:11:15 > 0:11:17and I think the answer to the question

0:11:17 > 0:11:20is that we need to discuss it, we need to have a policy on it

0:11:20 > 0:11:23and we need to be able as a country to come to a view

0:11:23 > 0:11:25about the answer to that question.

0:11:25 > 0:11:27And it will always be the case, I hope,

0:11:27 > 0:11:30that this country welcomes people who need refuge

0:11:30 > 0:11:34from things that are going on around the world that are...

0:11:34 > 0:11:36But I also think...

0:11:36 > 0:11:39The question as well, is I think...

0:11:39 > 0:11:41I hear what people are saying,

0:11:41 > 0:11:44but I also think if you are talking about the pressure on services,

0:11:44 > 0:11:47you have to dig deeper and talk about those services.

0:11:47 > 0:11:48So, for example, with education -

0:11:48 > 0:11:50what we know is happening at the moment

0:11:50 > 0:11:53is we've got a massive shortage in terms of teachers.

0:11:53 > 0:11:56We've got teachers leaving the profession whole-scale.

0:11:56 > 0:11:58Every time I meet a former colleague -

0:11:58 > 0:12:01I used to teach in schools, for nearly 20 years -

0:12:01 > 0:12:02they have all left.

0:12:02 > 0:12:03So that is a big issue.

0:12:03 > 0:12:06Another issue is in terms of the NHS -

0:12:06 > 0:12:08why is it there have been huge cutbacks

0:12:08 > 0:12:11in terms of training for nurses?

0:12:11 > 0:12:14- APPLAUSE - We can't keep blaming migrants.

0:12:14 > 0:12:17There are lots of issues running parallel to each other

0:12:17 > 0:12:21and I agree with you, but we can't just have a policy about migration.

0:12:21 > 0:12:23If you are talking about public services,

0:12:23 > 0:12:25you've got to have a big, overarching policy

0:12:25 > 0:12:27that looks at all the implications.

0:12:27 > 0:12:29Dreda, what is your view on migration?

0:12:29 > 0:12:32Do you think, from the EU, it should be unlimited?

0:12:32 > 0:12:37I think... You know, cos my whole thing about voting for Leave

0:12:37 > 0:12:41is that I've got a real issue with the EU and democracy.

0:12:41 > 0:12:45I think it should be a democratically-elected government.

0:12:45 > 0:12:48We live in a democracy, and they should have the right,

0:12:48 > 0:12:50like with all other big policies,

0:12:50 > 0:12:53to choose what their migration policy is.

0:12:53 > 0:12:55I think it is wrong that somebody else chooses that.

0:12:55 > 0:12:57OK. Caroline?

0:12:57 > 0:12:59APPLAUSE

0:12:59 > 0:13:01Can you deal with that point,

0:13:01 > 0:13:03that it's wrong that somebody else decides?

0:13:03 > 0:13:07I'm saying the EU is made up of the Council of Ministers

0:13:07 > 0:13:11where we do have our minister there on behalf of the UK.

0:13:11 > 0:13:14We also have members of the European Parliament.

0:13:14 > 0:13:17The EU Commission, which is not... The EU Commission is not elected.

0:13:17 > 0:13:19The Commission is for civil servants.

0:13:19 > 0:13:22But the EU Commission, nothing seems to happen without them.

0:13:22 > 0:13:25- They have to kick-start it. - Can I just finish?

0:13:25 > 0:13:27..those meetings and seen what goes on...

0:13:27 > 0:13:29I used to be a member of the European Parliament for ten years

0:13:29 > 0:13:31and I have seen up close what goes on.

0:13:31 > 0:13:33I can tell you that essentially,

0:13:33 > 0:13:36there is more democracy, ironically, in the EU

0:13:36 > 0:13:37than there is here.

0:13:37 > 0:13:39At least your MEPs

0:13:39 > 0:13:42are elected through a system of proportional representation.

0:13:42 > 0:13:46We have a government here elected on 24% of the eligible vote.

0:13:46 > 0:13:51The idea that that is somehow democracy is a complete travesty.

0:13:51 > 0:13:54Steve, you have obviously been in, or sat in,

0:13:54 > 0:13:55the Council of Ministers, have you?

0:13:55 > 0:13:57- I've observed it.- Tell us about it.

0:13:57 > 0:13:59First of all, I absolutely agree with Caroline

0:13:59 > 0:14:02that there are serious problems we need to fix in our democracy.

0:14:02 > 0:14:04I completely agree with that.

0:14:04 > 0:14:06Could you have a word with David Cameron about it?

0:14:06 > 0:14:08Let him have his say, now. LAUGHTER

0:14:08 > 0:14:12I've had many words over the years on that topic, as well as others.

0:14:12 > 0:14:16The point is that in the EU, obviously,

0:14:16 > 0:14:20when the whole thing is run basically on a committee basis,

0:14:20 > 0:14:22where you have 28 countries, and probably more,

0:14:22 > 0:14:25everything is a negotiation

0:14:25 > 0:14:28and that means that everything has to be a compromise.

0:14:28 > 0:14:30Now, there is nothing wrong with compromise.

0:14:30 > 0:14:33Life is about compromise, government is about compromise.

0:14:33 > 0:14:37But the truth is it should be the case that the compromises

0:14:37 > 0:14:39are ones that we can get involved in,

0:14:39 > 0:14:42that the people affected by those compromises

0:14:42 > 0:14:44can have a say over what is the result.

0:14:44 > 0:14:47- That is impossible if we are in the EU.- OK.

0:14:47 > 0:14:49APPLAUSE The woman there...

0:14:51 > 0:14:52Yes?

0:14:53 > 0:14:56Returning to the original question,

0:14:56 > 0:15:00GP practices within Ipswich are having to close their lists

0:15:00 > 0:15:03because they are unable to take any more patients

0:15:03 > 0:15:08because they have so many deep problems.

0:15:08 > 0:15:10One of those problems,

0:15:10 > 0:15:12and a very serious part of those problems,

0:15:12 > 0:15:14are the number of EU migrants that are in Ipswich.

0:15:14 > 0:15:18It's a...

0:15:18 > 0:15:21They can't cope with the language difficulties,

0:15:21 > 0:15:24the numbers...it's just...

0:15:24 > 0:15:26The system is folding.

0:15:26 > 0:15:29You are talking of patients, not of nurses and doctors?

0:15:29 > 0:15:33Patients, the number of patients. They haven't...

0:15:33 > 0:15:35- They are overwhelmed by it.- Yeah.

0:15:35 > 0:15:38I want to hear from somebody who's pro-Remain

0:15:38 > 0:15:39on this point about immigration.

0:15:39 > 0:15:41Yes, all right, you.

0:15:41 > 0:15:44I worked in the NHS, I worked in Colchester,

0:15:44 > 0:15:46since I left school.

0:15:46 > 0:15:49Blaming immigration on the shortfalls of the NHS

0:15:49 > 0:15:51is not true.

0:15:51 > 0:15:55The NHS is struggling because of the Conservative Government cuts

0:15:55 > 0:15:57made to the NHS, not because of immigration.

0:15:57 > 0:15:59APPLAUSE

0:16:03 > 0:16:05So, David, it is the Conservatives' fault.

0:16:05 > 0:16:07It is always the Conservatives' fault, isn't it?

0:16:07 > 0:16:10APPLAUSE

0:16:12 > 0:16:14Look, we were talking about

0:16:14 > 0:16:16the pressures brought about by immigration

0:16:16 > 0:16:18and we were also talking about democracy.

0:16:18 > 0:16:20Let's start with getting a few facts straight.

0:16:20 > 0:16:22I was there for a few years.

0:16:22 > 0:16:25Caroline is wrong. The Commission IS the Government.

0:16:25 > 0:16:27The Government in any country

0:16:27 > 0:16:29is the one that initiates the legislation,

0:16:29 > 0:16:32starts the ball rolling, writes the Act of Parliament.

0:16:32 > 0:16:34It is the commissioners that do that.

0:16:34 > 0:16:36And how do we choose the commissioners?

0:16:36 > 0:16:39We choose people who their electorates have rejected.

0:16:39 > 0:16:42Jean-Claude Juncker was rejected.

0:16:42 > 0:16:43I appointed Neil Kinnock -

0:16:43 > 0:16:47he was another one who the electorate rejected!

0:16:47 > 0:16:50Let's be clear, this is NOT a democracy.

0:16:50 > 0:16:52Why did you appoint somebody who had been rejected?

0:16:52 > 0:16:55Why didn't you make a better choice, if you thought...?

0:16:55 > 0:16:57- It was the right choice. - Oh, it was the right choice?

0:16:57 > 0:17:00- Listen...- Hang on a moment! You can't say it's the right choice

0:17:00 > 0:17:02- and then say the thing doesn't work. - The only way...

0:17:02 > 0:17:04- STEVE:- The right undemocratic choice.

0:17:04 > 0:17:06You have not got any option - you can't elect a commissioner.

0:17:06 > 0:17:09You're not allowed to - the Government nominates them.

0:17:09 > 0:17:12It nominates - in those days - one from each party.

0:17:12 > 0:17:14The Labour Party nominated me

0:17:14 > 0:17:17and I said, "We can't block the Labour Party."

0:17:17 > 0:17:20Let's come back to the point - the point here is about democracy.

0:17:20 > 0:17:25Who knows best what our public services can deal with?

0:17:25 > 0:17:27Who knows best how many nurses we need?

0:17:27 > 0:17:30Who knows best how many houses we can build?

0:17:30 > 0:17:31Our government.

0:17:31 > 0:17:34Not some commissioner in Brussels. Our government.

0:17:34 > 0:17:35- CAROLINE:- This is a travesty.

0:17:35 > 0:17:38Which is why WE should control the number of immigrants,

0:17:38 > 0:17:41and where they come from and who they are.

0:17:41 > 0:17:43APPLAUSE

0:17:43 > 0:17:45Ed Miliband.

0:17:47 > 0:17:50I do say that the people for Leave in this argument, I fear,

0:17:50 > 0:17:52are selling an illusion.

0:17:52 > 0:17:54I just want to say to this audience,

0:17:54 > 0:17:58the problems we face as a country, not just migration -

0:17:58 > 0:18:03climate change, terrorism, tax avoidance, all of those issues -

0:18:03 > 0:18:04we can't deal with them on our own any more.

0:18:04 > 0:18:06We've got to...

0:18:06 > 0:18:09APPLAUSE AND SCATTERED BOOING

0:18:09 > 0:18:13- Let me...let me... - AUDIENCE MEMBERS SHOUT

0:18:13 > 0:18:15Let me explain what I mean by that.

0:18:15 > 0:18:19The truth is, these problems cross borders.

0:18:19 > 0:18:21Powerful corporations cross borders.

0:18:21 > 0:18:24Corporations, it's all about corporations.

0:18:24 > 0:18:27Here we go - it's always about big business, corporations.

0:18:27 > 0:18:30Are we actually saying, David, that we, as a country,

0:18:30 > 0:18:32the fifth-largest economy...?

0:18:32 > 0:18:33- Ed, actually.- Sorry! Ed...

0:18:33 > 0:18:37LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

0:18:37 > 0:18:42Ed, Ed - sorry, of course I know it is Ed, sorry!

0:18:42 > 0:18:44I interrupted your stride, sorry.

0:18:44 > 0:18:46- DAVID DAVIS: - I have the same problem...

0:18:46 > 0:18:48- ED:- My mum makes the same mistake.

0:18:48 > 0:18:52- LAUGHTER - We are the fifth-largest economy.

0:18:52 > 0:18:55Are we actually saying we cannot do this on our own,

0:18:55 > 0:18:58working in partnership with other people?

0:18:58 > 0:19:00APPLAUSE

0:19:04 > 0:19:07You said it exactly right, Dreda, at the end -

0:19:07 > 0:19:09working in partnership with other people.

0:19:09 > 0:19:12We're in a partnership with the United States.

0:19:12 > 0:19:14Are we in a union with them? No, we are not.

0:19:14 > 0:19:17Let me just.... Let's take a very concrete example, here.

0:19:17 > 0:19:20We have four weeks' paid holiday in this country.

0:19:20 > 0:19:22We have equal rights for men and women -

0:19:22 > 0:19:24not enough, but we've made progress on it.

0:19:24 > 0:19:27We have maternity leave. Those things didn't happen

0:19:27 > 0:19:30because of a Conservative Government or a Labour Government.

0:19:30 > 0:19:32They happened because across the European Union,

0:19:32 > 0:19:34you had countries joining together,

0:19:34 > 0:19:36saying, "We are not going to let companies

0:19:36 > 0:19:38"play one country off against another."

0:19:38 > 0:19:41It is the same on the environment.

0:19:41 > 0:19:44And actually, we were able to deliver those things.

0:19:44 > 0:19:46- But we also, we also... - All right...

0:19:46 > 0:19:50We also live at a time when we've got zero-hours contracts as well.

0:19:50 > 0:19:53Is that good? What are the EU doing about that?

0:19:53 > 0:19:55Dreda, hold on a second. I have got a lot of people

0:19:55 > 0:19:57in the audience who want to speak,

0:19:57 > 0:19:59and I want to hear from them, hold on a second.

0:19:59 > 0:20:01And Steve Hilton has got a comment...

0:20:01 > 0:20:06I've only been here since Monday and I'm already absolutely sick

0:20:06 > 0:20:08of hearing, from the Remain side,

0:20:08 > 0:20:11these silly scares and phoney figures

0:20:11 > 0:20:13and overstatements of what people are saying.

0:20:13 > 0:20:16APPLAUSE

0:20:16 > 0:20:19THEY TALK OVER EACH OTHER

0:20:19 > 0:20:21- That is the most...- Let me finish.

0:20:21 > 0:20:23You're coming from your side of the debate.

0:20:23 > 0:20:25Let me finish the point, please.

0:20:25 > 0:20:28- That is the richest criticism I could ever imagine.- But Ed...

0:20:28 > 0:20:30Your side of the debate.

0:20:30 > 0:20:31But Ed...

0:20:31 > 0:20:37To say what he just did, to present this as a choice between

0:20:37 > 0:20:41total isolation and cooperation in Europe

0:20:41 > 0:20:43is completely ridiculous.

0:20:43 > 0:20:46Of course it's true that we need to cooperate on things

0:20:46 > 0:20:49like the environment and terrorism and global issues,

0:20:49 > 0:20:52and of course it's true that we can do that outside the EU,

0:20:52 > 0:20:56as an independent country. This is a really serious debate.

0:20:56 > 0:20:59It's complicated and there are many sides to it,

0:20:59 > 0:21:02and I wish that the Remain side would stop simplifying it and

0:21:02 > 0:21:06treating people like they can't understand complicated arguments.

0:21:06 > 0:21:07All right.

0:21:07 > 0:21:12We've got... We've got more questions about Europe,

0:21:12 > 0:21:14and I'll come to them,

0:21:14 > 0:21:16but I'll just take one or two more members of the audience.

0:21:16 > 0:21:18You, there, first of all.

0:21:18 > 0:21:22The largest comment against, sort of, remaining within the EU

0:21:22 > 0:21:25seems to be all of this red tape, all of this democracy,

0:21:25 > 0:21:26that isn't happening.

0:21:26 > 0:21:29I just want to say, I'm not sure if I actually want to

0:21:29 > 0:21:32hand back more power to the Government

0:21:32 > 0:21:35that has made £12 million worth of cuts to welfare,

0:21:35 > 0:21:40that has seen child poverty rise by £500 million or 500,000.

0:21:40 > 0:21:42I just don't want to see that.

0:21:42 > 0:21:44It doesn't seem like, if they get all this power,

0:21:44 > 0:21:47- they'll be doing things that are for the people.- You think it's...

0:21:47 > 0:21:50- They need someone to answer to. - APPLAUSE

0:21:50 > 0:21:54Are you saying, in effect, you feel safer in the EU

0:21:54 > 0:21:55rather than outside?

0:21:55 > 0:21:59Well, like the non-discrimination and gender equality laws

0:21:59 > 0:22:00that were spoken about,

0:22:00 > 0:22:03how do we know that our government is going to protect those?

0:22:03 > 0:22:05And also, I don't trust them to do it for the people.

0:22:05 > 0:22:09You are absolutely right. You are absolutely right.

0:22:09 > 0:22:11Woman in orange, there, please.

0:22:11 > 0:22:12The woman in orange, there, yes.

0:22:12 > 0:22:17The whole nub of the EU referendum is not the economy,

0:22:17 > 0:22:19it's not migration.

0:22:19 > 0:22:22We've got to consider what it's truly about.

0:22:22 > 0:22:25What's at the heart of the referendum is -

0:22:25 > 0:22:27do we want to govern ourselves?

0:22:31 > 0:22:35I've got a question that I'll come to next, but let me...

0:22:35 > 0:22:37You in the checked shirt, there, sir.

0:22:37 > 0:22:41Caroline, wasn't your answer in your first response

0:22:41 > 0:22:43to do with disproportionality?

0:22:43 > 0:22:45So you talked about the south-east and London

0:22:45 > 0:22:48having a great strangle on its services.

0:22:48 > 0:22:50If you lift that argument up one level,

0:22:50 > 0:22:52aren't you arguing with yourself?

0:22:52 > 0:22:54Because we are part of Europe and there's a disproportionate

0:22:54 > 0:22:57number of people coming to this country.

0:22:57 > 0:23:00No, I think that-that people are going to many different countries

0:23:00 > 0:23:04of the EU and the point I'm making is about subsidiarity,

0:23:04 > 0:23:07it's about where power and democracy need to lie,

0:23:07 > 0:23:10and there are certain things that absolutely need to be done

0:23:10 > 0:23:13at EU level, in terms of tackling the environment,

0:23:13 > 0:23:16in terms of tackling the issues of common workers' rights,

0:23:16 > 0:23:17and that's why we need the EU.

0:23:17 > 0:23:20This idea that governing ourselves, that essentially we are...

0:23:20 > 0:23:22Do you not believe in democracy?

0:23:22 > 0:23:25Do you not believe in democracy?

0:23:25 > 0:23:28It's because I believe in democracy that I am supporting

0:23:28 > 0:23:31the EU where there are issues...

0:23:31 > 0:23:33that we cannot solve on our own.

0:23:33 > 0:23:35All right. All right.

0:23:35 > 0:23:38Let's end this section. Let's end this... Let's end this.

0:23:38 > 0:23:41Caroline, we've had 25 minutes on this.

0:23:41 > 0:23:43We've got other questions that I want to come to.

0:23:43 > 0:23:46We've had quite a lot of people from the Brexit side.

0:23:46 > 0:23:49Anybody from the Remain side who wants to comment? You do, there.

0:23:49 > 0:23:52The man, there. Yeah.

0:23:52 > 0:23:54- You're a Remainer, are you? - I am, yes.

0:23:54 > 0:23:56All right.

0:23:56 > 0:23:58I'd like to say that I believe Brexit have done a great job

0:23:58 > 0:24:03in actually pointing the finger, wagging it solely at the EU

0:24:03 > 0:24:05migration situation.

0:24:05 > 0:24:08333,000 was the net figure today,

0:24:08 > 0:24:11of which 150,000 were from outside the EU.

0:24:11 > 0:24:15So if the hospitals are overflowing, why did we let in 150,000?

0:24:15 > 0:24:17And the second point is -

0:24:17 > 0:24:20the big danger here is, if we pull out of the EU,

0:24:20 > 0:24:24there is nothing to stop illegal immigration numbers rising

0:24:24 > 0:24:27because there will be nothing to stop anyone in the EU

0:24:27 > 0:24:29just saying, "If you want to go to the UK,

0:24:29 > 0:24:30"just camp out in Calais,

0:24:30 > 0:24:33"camp out in Amsterdam, and just come across to Clacton

0:24:33 > 0:24:34"any time you like."

0:24:34 > 0:24:38OK. Thank you. Another point from somebody who's a Remainer.

0:24:38 > 0:24:40You're a Remainer, sir?

0:24:40 > 0:24:42You're a Remainer, the woman there, on the end? Yes.

0:24:42 > 0:24:45Just coming back to the original question about...

0:24:45 > 0:24:47- about services...- Good idea.

0:24:47 > 0:24:50I completely agree with Ed that migrants prop up our services.

0:24:50 > 0:24:52I recently very badly injured my shoulder.

0:24:52 > 0:24:55About 80% of the medical professionals I have dealt with

0:24:55 > 0:24:57have been not from this country.

0:24:57 > 0:24:58If those people had not been in the NHS,

0:24:58 > 0:25:01I would have had to have waited a lot longer to receive

0:25:01 > 0:25:02the treatment that I've had,

0:25:02 > 0:25:05so they do prop up our services and they make a massive contribution,

0:25:05 > 0:25:07and we will miss out on that if we leave.

0:25:07 > 0:25:10Thank you. Right, we're going to... APPLAUSE

0:25:13 > 0:25:18Before we take the next question, let me just explain Question Time's

0:25:18 > 0:25:21progress in the next two or three weeks.

0:25:21 > 0:25:24We're going to be in Cardiff next week,

0:25:24 > 0:25:26we're going to be in Folkestone the week after that,

0:25:26 > 0:25:28but in the final week before the vote,

0:25:28 > 0:25:32we've actually got a special series of three programmes -

0:25:32 > 0:25:35Nottingham, York and Milton Keynes.

0:25:35 > 0:25:38In Nottingham, Michael Gove is going to be facing

0:25:38 > 0:25:41a Question Time audience.

0:25:41 > 0:25:44CHEERING

0:25:44 > 0:25:45Can't get through these things.

0:25:45 > 0:25:47Michael Gove is going to be facing

0:25:47 > 0:25:49a Question Time audience on his own.

0:25:49 > 0:25:51LAUGHTER

0:25:51 > 0:25:54In Milton Keynes, David Cameron is going to be facing

0:25:54 > 0:25:57a Question Time audience on his own.

0:25:58 > 0:26:01And...in whatever's left - York -

0:26:01 > 0:26:03we're going to have a normal panel.

0:26:03 > 0:26:06Well, I say normal panel, we're going to have a big panel...

0:26:06 > 0:26:07with the audience.

0:26:07 > 0:26:11So there's Cardiff, Folkestone, Nottingham, York and Milton Keynes.

0:26:11 > 0:26:14I'll give the numbers at the end, but they're on the screen now,

0:26:14 > 0:26:15if you want to make a note,

0:26:15 > 0:26:18if you'd like to come to any of those...programmes.

0:26:18 > 0:26:21Right, let's go on...

0:26:21 > 0:26:23though not necessarily very far.

0:26:23 > 0:26:26Claudette Jones, please. Claudette.

0:26:26 > 0:26:31Is it worth another two years of austerity to leave the EU?

0:26:31 > 0:26:32Is it worth another two...?

0:26:32 > 0:26:35This was the claim that there was going to be another two

0:26:35 > 0:26:37years of austerity by the IFS, I think.

0:26:37 > 0:26:39Is your view it is worth it or not worth it?

0:26:39 > 0:26:42I'm currently undecided...

0:26:42 > 0:26:45because there's so many forecasts that have come out

0:26:45 > 0:26:50and it's difficult to know whose to believe,

0:26:50 > 0:26:52especially when forecasts have to be based on a certain

0:26:52 > 0:26:55amount of assumption and...

0:26:55 > 0:26:58Because we don't know what Europe is going to decide,

0:26:58 > 0:27:00how they're going to behave towards us.

0:27:00 > 0:27:04If we do leave, it's quite difficult to...

0:27:04 > 0:27:05To know...

0:27:05 > 0:27:07All right, let's have a try with our panel.

0:27:07 > 0:27:09David Davis, the IFS, as you know,

0:27:09 > 0:27:12an organisation that Michael Gove said

0:27:12 > 0:27:15- he had the greatest respect for... - Not any more.

0:27:15 > 0:27:18..said there'd be an additional year or two of austerity.

0:27:18 > 0:27:20Well, they're just wrong.

0:27:20 > 0:27:22They didn't do any work of their own,

0:27:22 > 0:27:26what they did was look at all the other surveys that had taken place,

0:27:26 > 0:27:27and I'm afraid the establishment,

0:27:27 > 0:27:29the international establishment in particular,

0:27:29 > 0:27:31is caught in a sort of group thing.

0:27:31 > 0:27:34These are the people, remember, who were all in favour of the euro,

0:27:34 > 0:27:37the IMF and the Treasury and all that.

0:27:37 > 0:27:40They were... They never saw the 2008 financial crisis coming.

0:27:40 > 0:27:42In fact, they helped cause it.

0:27:42 > 0:27:47The IMF, in particular, didn't even handle the Greek crisis very well.

0:27:47 > 0:27:50These are people who are holding themselves up as authorities.

0:27:50 > 0:27:53The Treasury tried to stop us going into the euro.

0:27:53 > 0:27:54Er...eventually.

0:27:54 > 0:27:57They made the conditions that stopped Brown going in.

0:27:57 > 0:27:59- No, no, wait a minute. - And that stopped Blair going in.

0:27:59 > 0:28:01Yet again, I was there and you weren't.

0:28:01 > 0:28:03- AUDIENCE:- Ooh!

0:28:03 > 0:28:05Ooh!

0:28:05 > 0:28:07Ooh! I read the papers.

0:28:07 > 0:28:08You read...

0:28:08 > 0:28:12If you challenge me, let me just say my understanding of the story.

0:28:12 > 0:28:14- I was there, actually. - And you were there.

0:28:14 > 0:28:16There was a feeling that Tony Blair wanted to go into the euro,

0:28:16 > 0:28:19that Gordon Brown didn't. It's true, isn't it?

0:28:19 > 0:28:20More or less true, yes.

0:28:20 > 0:28:23More or less true. And the Treasury came up with the conditions.

0:28:23 > 0:28:26The opt-out in the first place was created by John Major's government

0:28:26 > 0:28:27many years before -

0:28:27 > 0:28:30you wouldn't have had the choice had it not been for them -

0:28:30 > 0:28:32and the reason the opt-out was created was because

0:28:32 > 0:28:36of the mistake made by the Treasury on the ERM. Remember the ERM crisis?

0:28:36 > 0:28:39That's what led to that. That was another mistake these people made.

0:28:39 > 0:28:42But you say the Treasury wanted us to go into the euro.

0:28:42 > 0:28:44- No, you said that.- No, I didn't say that. You said that.

0:28:44 > 0:28:46- I said these people wanted it. - Including the Treasury.

0:28:46 > 0:28:48Well, let's leave this one.

0:28:48 > 0:28:50- Call it a draw. - No, we won't call it a draw.

0:28:50 > 0:28:53- LAUGHTER - I haven't finished yet.

0:28:53 > 0:28:58The simple truth here is that the assumption being made

0:28:58 > 0:29:02behind all these gloomy, frightening stories

0:29:02 > 0:29:04is that one - we're going to lose lots of trade

0:29:04 > 0:29:06with the European Union.

0:29:06 > 0:29:10And two - we're not going to do any trade, or any more trade,

0:29:10 > 0:29:11outside in the global world.

0:29:11 > 0:29:15Firstly, of course we're going to get lots of scare stories

0:29:15 > 0:29:16right up to the day of Brexit.

0:29:16 > 0:29:19Go out in the street, look at the cars.

0:29:19 > 0:29:21Count the cars. How many Audis? How many BMWs?

0:29:21 > 0:29:23How many Mercedes? How many Volkswagens?

0:29:23 > 0:29:28Germany needs us - we're its biggest market.

0:29:28 > 0:29:30France needs us for wine and cheese.

0:29:30 > 0:29:33The deal will be done in the next two years - that's the first thing.

0:29:33 > 0:29:36Second thing, in terms of global trade,

0:29:36 > 0:29:39the worst operator in terms of creating free trade areas

0:29:39 > 0:29:41in the world is the European Union.

0:29:41 > 0:29:43It hasn't got a deal with the United States yet,

0:29:43 > 0:29:46it hasn't got a deal with China, it hasn't got a deal with India.

0:29:46 > 0:29:49It tried for nearly ten years to get a deal with India.

0:29:49 > 0:29:51It took nine years to get a deal with Canada.

0:29:51 > 0:29:53Everybody else can do this in months or one or two years.

0:29:53 > 0:29:57Small countries can do it. Switzerland can do it.

0:29:57 > 0:29:59South Korea can do it.

0:29:59 > 0:30:05So the argument that we are going to suffer is a scare story

0:30:05 > 0:30:06based on a falsehood.

0:30:06 > 0:30:10- So, to come back to your point... - APPLAUSE

0:30:17 > 0:30:20A man called Stuart Rose,

0:30:20 > 0:30:22who is the business leader of the Remain campaign,

0:30:22 > 0:30:25was interviewed in front of a select committee...

0:30:25 > 0:30:28One of the House Of Commons selects committees,

0:30:28 > 0:30:30and one of the things he admitted was that

0:30:30 > 0:30:33nothing would change very much at all for the first

0:30:33 > 0:30:35couple of years anyway.

0:30:35 > 0:30:37Secondly, he admitted that, actually,

0:30:37 > 0:30:40wages would go up if we left the European Union.

0:30:40 > 0:30:45Now those two things, to me, do not argue for a great recession

0:30:45 > 0:30:48or a great penalty we have to face if we leave the Union.

0:30:48 > 0:30:52And I come back to the point, we are leaving, we should leave,

0:30:52 > 0:30:55because of recovery, control of our own affairs,

0:30:55 > 0:30:57and we will run them better than they do.

0:30:57 > 0:30:59That does not include a recession.

0:30:59 > 0:31:03Ed Miliband, the... APPLAUSE

0:31:06 > 0:31:09The Chancellor, this week, said that Brexit

0:31:09 > 0:31:12would cost as many as 820,000 jobs

0:31:12 > 0:31:15and the Treasury said that, by 2013,

0:31:15 > 0:31:18Britain would be worse off by over £4,000 a year per household.

0:31:18 > 0:31:20You've heard what David Davis said.

0:31:20 > 0:31:22Do you support those contentions?

0:31:22 > 0:31:23Do you believe them?

0:31:23 > 0:31:26Yeah, I mean, they're in the broad range of conjectures

0:31:26 > 0:31:28- and forecasts made... - What does a "broad range" mean?

0:31:28 > 0:31:31- You mean it may be true, it may not be true?- Well, no...

0:31:31 > 0:31:34Every respected independent forecaster has said,

0:31:34 > 0:31:37"We're going to be worse off economically,

0:31:37 > 0:31:39"worse off for trade, worse off for investment."

0:31:39 > 0:31:42I just want to say something about the Institute for Fiscal Studies,

0:31:42 > 0:31:43who came out with the report this week,

0:31:43 > 0:31:45they have criticised Labour governments,

0:31:45 > 0:31:47they have criticised Conservative governments.

0:31:47 > 0:31:49Always, after a budget, they say,

0:31:49 > 0:31:51"The Chancellor got this wrong, got that wrong."

0:31:51 > 0:31:54The idea that they're part of a vast conspiracy on the Remain side

0:31:54 > 0:31:56is frankly laughable, David.

0:31:56 > 0:31:58This is an independent body that is saying,

0:31:58 > 0:31:59"We are going to be worse off."

0:31:59 > 0:32:02I also want to go to Claudette's question.

0:32:02 > 0:32:05Claudette said, "Is two years' austerity, which the

0:32:05 > 0:32:06"IFS said would happen, worth it?"

0:32:06 > 0:32:09Well, my argument is it isn't worth it.

0:32:09 > 0:32:12And let me just say one thing about why I think it's not worth it,

0:32:12 > 0:32:13it's about young people.

0:32:13 > 0:32:16All around the world, young people are kicking against the system.

0:32:16 > 0:32:20So you might expect in this referendum, the forecast,

0:32:20 > 0:32:22the polls to be saying, that young people will be

0:32:22 > 0:32:24voting for out, they are voting for in.

0:32:24 > 0:32:27I think we should think about the wisdom of young people in this.

0:32:27 > 0:32:30Why is that? Because young people like the freedom to travel.

0:32:30 > 0:32:32They recognise the world is getting closer together,

0:32:32 > 0:32:35they recognise that we need to work with others

0:32:35 > 0:32:36to tackle the challenges.

0:32:36 > 0:32:38Which young people are you talking about?

0:32:38 > 0:32:41This is my problem sometimes.

0:32:41 > 0:32:43Sometimes we use the term "young people",

0:32:43 > 0:32:47we're invariably talking about young people who were students,

0:32:47 > 0:32:49who were part of the professional class.

0:32:49 > 0:32:51No, we're not talking about that.

0:32:51 > 0:32:54- I don't think...- Let me tell you... - No, Dave...Ed.

0:32:54 > 0:32:56- Sorry!- She's done it again.

0:32:58 > 0:33:03- I'm sorry - Ed. - Just go with "you there".

0:33:03 > 0:33:07That would be sort of easier. They'll edit that bit out, anyway.

0:33:09 > 0:33:11We never edit this programme. You're on guard.

0:33:11 > 0:33:13I want to come to you in a moment

0:33:13 > 0:33:15because you keep interfering, interrupting.

0:33:15 > 0:33:17- Yes, I'll come to you. - I was interrupted, actually.

0:33:17 > 0:33:21No, I was talking to the man with the medals on. Don't be rude.

0:33:21 > 0:33:23I just think there's a whole thing about...

0:33:23 > 0:33:26- My basic point about young people... - No, I'm still talking, Ed.

0:33:26 > 0:33:29..is about working-class people.

0:33:29 > 0:33:32I don't know, I'm thinking about the working-class people in my family.

0:33:32 > 0:33:36They're not talking about, "I can't wait to travel to go off to Greece

0:33:36 > 0:33:39"or Milan or wherever, Rotterdam, to set up some business."

0:33:39 > 0:33:42What they want, what preoccupies them,

0:33:42 > 0:33:43is ,"Am I going to have a steady job?"

0:33:43 > 0:33:45"Am I going to have a roof over my head?"

0:33:45 > 0:33:49- Yeah.- "Am I going to have somewhere where I come home for my family?"

0:33:49 > 0:33:52"Am I going to have time to chill out and relax?"

0:33:52 > 0:33:56So can we stop using this general term "young people",

0:33:56 > 0:34:00and using a very stereotypical image of young people?

0:34:00 > 0:34:04I'm making a very specific point. I've learnt not to trust polls.

0:34:04 > 0:34:08But I can say that if you look at the broad range of the polls,

0:34:08 > 0:34:11by three or four to one, young people,

0:34:11 > 0:34:14and that's very large margins, are saying we should stay in.

0:34:14 > 0:34:17Now, that's because they can't imagine a world where

0:34:17 > 0:34:21we can't have visa-free travel across the 28 countries, or where...

0:34:21 > 0:34:23Well, we didn't have it before, actually.

0:34:23 > 0:34:26- We didn't have it before. - We did.

0:34:26 > 0:34:30- The truth is that I think... - Let's hear your point.

0:34:30 > 0:34:32Before the EU.

0:34:32 > 0:34:35Before Poland and the East European countries joined the EU,

0:34:35 > 0:34:36you could travel without a visa.

0:34:36 > 0:34:40- Not to Eastern Europe.- You could travel to the States without a visa.

0:34:40 > 0:34:43You can travel to Japan, Dubai, you don't need a visa.

0:34:43 > 0:34:45Not to Eastern Europe, you couldn't.

0:34:45 > 0:34:48But not to the 28 countries of the European Union.

0:34:48 > 0:34:50You never needed a visa for Italy.

0:34:50 > 0:34:53No, but 28 countries of the European Union...

0:34:53 > 0:34:56I want to go to you, sir, because you are disagreeing,

0:34:56 > 0:34:58I noticed you, with the woman on your right about this.

0:34:58 > 0:35:00And the question was - is it worth

0:35:00 > 0:35:02another two years of austerity to leave the EU?

0:35:02 > 0:35:03And you said, "Yes, it is."

0:35:03 > 0:35:06- You think it is worth it? - Yes, it is.- OK.

0:35:08 > 0:35:12So, you are not moved by the economic argument?

0:35:12 > 0:35:15Well, may I say, David, as an ex-serviceman

0:35:15 > 0:35:19in her Majesty's Armed Forces, I am a veteran, as you can see,

0:35:19 > 0:35:24I served my Queen and country and I'm actually living proof.

0:35:24 > 0:35:29I will be voting to leave the EU, along with a lot of servicemen

0:35:29 > 0:35:30and ex-servicemen

0:35:30 > 0:35:35because I am living proof that being part of this EU does not work

0:35:35 > 0:35:39for people that are not in receipt of senior citizen pensions.

0:35:39 > 0:35:43If you cannot... I lived in Spain since approximately 2000.

0:35:43 > 0:35:48I was forced back to my country and I have it on a digi-recording

0:35:48 > 0:35:51from a top Social Security politician.

0:35:51 > 0:35:54"Malcolm, you are English, go back to England,

0:35:54 > 0:35:58"we cannot afford to keep you and help you any more."

0:35:58 > 0:36:01I had to leave my home behind and my wife-to-be.

0:36:01 > 0:36:03I can't bring her back to this country with me

0:36:03 > 0:36:05because she comes from Ukraine

0:36:05 > 0:36:08and there's a lot of paperwork and money needed to do that.

0:36:08 > 0:36:11So you're saying to hell with the EU?

0:36:11 > 0:36:14When I went into the medical centre for my morphine,

0:36:14 > 0:36:19there was a red cross put on the back of this Spanish card

0:36:19 > 0:36:23and said, "It's not valued any more, you'll have to pay privately

0:36:23 > 0:36:25"because you are not of pensionable age."

0:36:25 > 0:36:28And I, among a lot of former military people

0:36:28 > 0:36:32and serving military people, will be the voting to go out.

0:36:32 > 0:36:33Caroline Lucas.

0:36:36 > 0:36:39- I want to come back to Jean's point about...- Do you recognise that?

0:36:39 > 0:36:42Hang on, we've heard the story.

0:36:42 > 0:36:44A load of rubbish. I am living proof.

0:36:44 > 0:36:48They do not treat us as European people, we are not equals.

0:36:48 > 0:36:51Caroline Lucas, do you come across that kind of story?

0:36:51 > 0:36:53I genuinely haven't come across that kind of story.

0:36:53 > 0:36:54I'm very sorry to hear it,

0:36:54 > 0:36:57but I don't know that leaving the EU would make it any better.

0:36:57 > 0:36:59I want to come to the point Dreda made,

0:36:59 > 0:37:00because it's an important one,

0:37:00 > 0:37:03when she said that the young people she knows are most concerned about

0:37:03 > 0:37:05whether they'll have a secure job,

0:37:05 > 0:37:07whether they have food on the table and so on.

0:37:07 > 0:37:09It's exactly for those reasons I think we need

0:37:09 > 0:37:11to stay inside the EU because that's how you get,

0:37:11 > 0:37:14for example, basic workers' rights guaranteed.

0:37:14 > 0:37:16Not just in the UK, but right across the EU,

0:37:16 > 0:37:18so you don't have big corporations...

0:37:18 > 0:37:20- Let me finish. - Of course, OK.

0:37:20 > 0:37:22They don't get corporations trying to play off

0:37:22 > 0:37:24one country against the other and bring down standards.

0:37:24 > 0:37:27If you have your friends who are perhaps agency workers,

0:37:27 > 0:37:28then it's because of the EU

0:37:28 > 0:37:31that you've got common protection for agency workers.

0:37:31 > 0:37:34If they were pregnant, they're going to have better results

0:37:34 > 0:37:37as a result of the EU in terms of protections for them.

0:37:37 > 0:37:40So it seems to me that the EU has done a huge amount

0:37:40 > 0:37:44to make sure that working people are going to be better protected.

0:37:44 > 0:37:48Don't forget that Boris Johnson wants to scrap the Social Chapter.

0:37:48 > 0:37:51He wants to scrap all of those protections.

0:37:51 > 0:37:54He has said... Boris Johnson has absolutely said...

0:37:54 > 0:37:57He wants he wants to get rid of it.

0:37:57 > 0:38:00Yes, I will come to you

0:38:00 > 0:38:05but Steve Hilton, the Prime Minister says family holidays will rise

0:38:05 > 0:38:08by £230, you have heard the other figures.

0:38:08 > 0:38:11- Do you think they are all rubbish? - Yes, basically.

0:38:11 > 0:38:13- I think... - You're a bit slow on that one.

0:38:13 > 0:38:15You don't have to speak for him!

0:38:15 > 0:38:20I have said already that I think I'm sick...

0:38:20 > 0:38:23I think we are all sick of these phoney figures.

0:38:23 > 0:38:24I want to come back to the question

0:38:24 > 0:38:27because you used a phrase which is at the heart of this,

0:38:27 > 0:38:29this discussion about what's going to happen.

0:38:29 > 0:38:30The phrasing you used was,

0:38:30 > 0:38:33"You hear all this stuff and it's difficult to know."

0:38:33 > 0:38:34Those were your words.

0:38:34 > 0:38:37That's right, and I'd go a bit further. It's impossible to know.

0:38:37 > 0:38:39It is literally impossible to know

0:38:39 > 0:38:42exactly what's going to happen in the future.

0:38:42 > 0:38:44Now, I'm very clearly for Leave.

0:38:44 > 0:38:46But I would be the first to acknowledge

0:38:46 > 0:38:48that there are risks from leaving.

0:38:48 > 0:38:52But please could the other side of the argument also acknowledge

0:38:52 > 0:38:54that there are also risks from staying?

0:38:54 > 0:38:57Because the EU right now, for example,

0:38:57 > 0:39:00is one of the worst-performing economic areas in the world.

0:39:00 > 0:39:03It's basically a sinking ship, economically.

0:39:03 > 0:39:06There is a risk to us from being associated with that.

0:39:06 > 0:39:09The truth is, the future is a risk.

0:39:09 > 0:39:11We don't know what's going to happen in the future.

0:39:11 > 0:39:13And not just the next few years,

0:39:13 > 0:39:16but the next 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years.

0:39:16 > 0:39:18We have no idea what's going to happen.

0:39:18 > 0:39:22So the real question, given it's difficult and impossible to know,

0:39:22 > 0:39:25is what kind of arrangements for governing ourselves

0:39:25 > 0:39:30put us in the best possible position to cope with these future risks?

0:39:30 > 0:39:33And, for me, the answer to that question is

0:39:33 > 0:39:36a set of arrangements for running the country that allow us

0:39:36 > 0:39:41to move quickly to address things as they happen and to have control

0:39:41 > 0:39:45over the things that we want to do in our country and not have to

0:39:45 > 0:39:49move at the pace of a committee of 20-odd other countries

0:39:49 > 0:39:52and negotiate everything, so that we can respond

0:39:52 > 0:39:56to an uncertain future in the decades ahead.

0:39:56 > 0:39:58And that's why I think we should leave.

0:39:58 > 0:40:00APPLAUSE

0:40:04 > 0:40:07Has he won you over with that one, or not?

0:40:07 > 0:40:11I think we've got a lot more information about the risks

0:40:11 > 0:40:13that we would face if we stayed in

0:40:13 > 0:40:16than those that we would face if we left.

0:40:16 > 0:40:20- It feels like an enormous unknown. And, so...- OK.

0:40:20 > 0:40:23Let's hear from some more members of the audience. You, sir.

0:40:23 > 0:40:25Hopefully I can weigh in, because as a young person

0:40:25 > 0:40:29who's in my final years of A-levels, hoping to go to university,

0:40:29 > 0:40:32I think when you hear Remain politicians

0:40:32 > 0:40:35saying "the young people", they don't really understand.

0:40:35 > 0:40:38I'm from Felixstowe, which is a port town,

0:40:38 > 0:40:41and we can see the direct effects of all this mass immigration.

0:40:41 > 0:40:44My town doesn't look like what it used to

0:40:44 > 0:40:47and I think one thing that you seem to be forgetting is

0:40:47 > 0:40:50we have the Commonwealth, which is now a bigger trading block

0:40:50 > 0:40:54than the European Union and, as the man said over here,

0:40:54 > 0:40:57most of the countries there are loyal to our Queen.

0:40:57 > 0:40:59They have the same culture as we do, the same principles.

0:40:59 > 0:41:02I'm someone whose step-grandfather is from the Caribbean

0:41:02 > 0:41:03who came over here to work.

0:41:03 > 0:41:06I had the pleasure to go and visit the country of St Vincent.

0:41:06 > 0:41:10I can tell you that they understand how we act as a nation

0:41:10 > 0:41:13and we should feel fine about leaving the European Union

0:41:13 > 0:41:15- because we have... - And favouring the Commonwealth?

0:41:15 > 0:41:18Yes, because the Commonwealth is there to look after this.

0:41:18 > 0:41:20Briefly, Ed Miliband. Just answer that point.

0:41:20 > 0:41:24I think the interesting thing is that actually, other countries

0:41:24 > 0:41:28want us to be in the European Union because liaising with us

0:41:28 > 0:41:31and trading with us, they then get a 500 million person market.

0:41:31 > 0:41:34I don't think it's a choice between being involved with the Commonwealth

0:41:34 > 0:41:36or being involved with the European Union, we should do both,

0:41:36 > 0:41:39just like we should reach out to China and be in the European Union.

0:41:39 > 0:41:42But lots of these other countries think one of the reasons they

0:41:42 > 0:41:45can trade with us is because we're in the EU, not outside.

0:41:45 > 0:41:47OK, you, sir, at the back there.

0:41:47 > 0:41:51I feel that David Davis, like all Brexiters,

0:41:51 > 0:41:54is wilfully distorting the economic picture.

0:41:54 > 0:41:58Of course we'll be able to trade with countries in the EU,

0:41:58 > 0:42:00but we'll have to pay tariffs.

0:42:00 > 0:42:02All products will be more expensive for us.

0:42:02 > 0:42:06Also, our companies, our businesses which trade in Europe,

0:42:06 > 0:42:10like financial services, will have huge restrictions put on them

0:42:10 > 0:42:13which will cause huge trouble to our underlying economy,

0:42:13 > 0:42:19which will make all our public services less able to cope

0:42:19 > 0:42:21with the problems that they already have.

0:42:21 > 0:42:24And this is all for this, sort of...

0:42:25 > 0:42:31..what...unknown benefit

0:42:31 > 0:42:34of having...of us being in control.

0:42:34 > 0:42:39And they say...he says he wants to be in control of immigration,

0:42:39 > 0:42:42but there's no saying what the government of the time

0:42:42 > 0:42:44will do about immigration.

0:42:44 > 0:42:46- OK.- We could be in or out of Europe,

0:42:46 > 0:42:49and we could just have just as much immigration.

0:42:49 > 0:42:51So we should stay in and retain the benefits.

0:42:51 > 0:42:52David Davis.

0:42:59 > 0:43:00The first thing to understand

0:43:00 > 0:43:03is there is no free market in services in the European Union.

0:43:03 > 0:43:06They still haven't got one, after all these years.

0:43:06 > 0:43:09- That is absolute rubbish. - That's the first thing to say.

0:43:09 > 0:43:13Hang on, he said it was rubbish. Briefly, why was it rubbish?

0:43:13 > 0:43:17The government, both Labour and Conservative governments,

0:43:17 > 0:43:25spent a long time ensuring that the EU did not push down the City.

0:43:25 > 0:43:30They did not impose EU-wide extra taxations on financial services

0:43:30 > 0:43:35which would have benefited other financial centres in the EU

0:43:35 > 0:43:37to the detriment of the City.

0:43:37 > 0:43:42There are ways in which being out of the EU will hugely affect

0:43:42 > 0:43:47the financial services industry, to a degree which is far greater

0:43:47 > 0:43:52than all the so-called benefits on the other side.

0:43:52 > 0:43:55There is no free market in services.

0:43:55 > 0:43:58And that negotiation you talk about,

0:43:58 > 0:44:00you can pick lots of them if you like,

0:44:00 > 0:44:02when they had to bail out Greece,

0:44:02 > 0:44:04we were supposedly not supposed to be involved in it.

0:44:04 > 0:44:07We ended up paying out £840 million, £850 million,

0:44:07 > 0:44:10as a result of being inside the system.

0:44:10 > 0:44:12More to the point, and I think more importantly,

0:44:12 > 0:44:16is this whole question of whether or not we continue to have access.

0:44:16 > 0:44:18And I reiterate the point.

0:44:18 > 0:44:22If we are outside the single market, we will have a deal with them,

0:44:22 > 0:44:26just as many other countries do who are, a free-trade deal...

0:44:26 > 0:44:28But it will have tariffs, David, it will have tariffs.

0:44:28 > 0:44:32Unless you're part of the single market, it will have tariffs.

0:44:32 > 0:44:33- No, it won't.- Yes, it will.

0:44:33 > 0:44:40If you had what's called the World Trade Organisation arrangements,

0:44:40 > 0:44:42- the tariffs will go in both directions.- Yes.

0:44:42 > 0:44:46They will be far more penal to the German car industry,

0:44:46 > 0:44:49which sells a million cars a year here,

0:44:49 > 0:44:51than they would be to us.

0:44:51 > 0:44:55And the most powerful person in Europe is Angela Merkel.

0:44:55 > 0:44:58And she's got a general election in 2017.

0:44:58 > 0:45:01But even Angela Merkel cannot make a bilateral agreement...

0:45:01 > 0:45:02Wait a minute.

0:45:02 > 0:45:05Eventually, in the European Union,

0:45:05 > 0:45:08what Germany wants, Germany gets, I'm afraid.

0:45:08 > 0:45:11And there's also an election in France in 2017.

0:45:11 > 0:45:14They'll have the same issue with agricultural sales to us.

0:45:14 > 0:45:18So on that side, the argument is a very ill-thought-through one.

0:45:18 > 0:45:21- Can I just interrupt you?- You are factually wrong on this, David.

0:45:21 > 0:45:24Hang on, the head of the World Trade Organisation said

0:45:24 > 0:45:28the UK would face an extra £9 billion in trading costs

0:45:28 > 0:45:29if it left the EU.

0:45:29 > 0:45:31- Is he right or wrong? - No, he's wrong.

0:45:31 > 0:45:35He's making a guess about what will be the outcome of the negotiations.

0:45:35 > 0:45:39- David, you cannot say... - Can I just finish the argument?

0:45:39 > 0:45:42This negotiation will take two years at least to go through.

0:45:42 > 0:45:45There's going to be... Of course, in the first few months,

0:45:45 > 0:45:47there's going to be a degree of hysteria,

0:45:47 > 0:45:49there will be, there's no doubt about that.

0:45:49 > 0:45:53But then all of these countries have a vested interest, whether it's...

0:45:53 > 0:45:55The World Trade Organisation has a vested interest?

0:45:55 > 0:45:58No, the countries we are negotiating with, the group of countries...

0:45:58 > 0:46:00Poland wants to sell machinery to us,

0:46:00 > 0:46:03uh, the Italians want to sell fashion goods to us,

0:46:03 > 0:46:06the Germans, cars and engineering goods,

0:46:06 > 0:46:11uh, the Spaniards and French want to sell food and drink to us...

0:46:11 > 0:46:14And they all have surpluses in our direction.

0:46:14 > 0:46:17So they want to sell to us more than we want to sell to them.

0:46:17 > 0:46:19- Can I just...? On that point... - I'm afraid...

0:46:19 > 0:46:22- I'm afraid the negotiation WILL happen!- OK.- And...

0:46:22 > 0:46:25- I just want to correct one thing that you keep saying.- But, no...

0:46:25 > 0:46:27- Let Caroline have her corrections. - No, I want...

0:46:27 > 0:46:29- Let Caroline make the correction. - All right.- Only fair.

0:46:29 > 0:46:31I want to correct the point where you keep saying

0:46:31 > 0:46:34that the EU needs us more than we need it.

0:46:34 > 0:46:38Our exports to the EU are 13% of our GDP.

0:46:38 > 0:46:41- EU exports to Britain are 3% of their GDP.- Yeah, we keep...

0:46:41 > 0:46:43- We actually need them more than they need us.- We...

0:46:43 > 0:46:46- You are being incredibly complacent. - CHEERING

0:46:46 > 0:46:49- We...- Incredibly complacent.

0:46:49 > 0:46:53We... We keep... We... This...

0:46:53 > 0:46:55- This...- It's true, it's true!

0:46:55 > 0:46:57No, no, no... Let...let Caroline speak!

0:46:57 > 0:47:01The simple truth is that this negotiation

0:47:01 > 0:47:03is going to affect every country.

0:47:03 > 0:47:05They won't be doing a 3% deal, they'll be thinking about,

0:47:05 > 0:47:08"What about my industry? What about this industry?"

0:47:08 > 0:47:10We don't talk about the percentage deals we deal with,

0:47:10 > 0:47:13we look at what it means for our individual industries.

0:47:13 > 0:47:15And while we're at it,

0:47:15 > 0:47:18the suggestion by Ed that, "Oh, well, we can deal with Europe

0:47:18 > 0:47:20"AND we can have a deal with China" - we can't.

0:47:20 > 0:47:23Whilst we're inside the European Union,

0:47:23 > 0:47:27We cannot negotiate with China. We cannot negotiate with India.

0:47:27 > 0:47:29- We cannot negotiate... - You've made the point.

0:47:29 > 0:47:31- Of course you can.- We'd do a better job than they would.

0:47:31 > 0:47:33David, you've spoken for some time. Let's just...

0:47:33 > 0:47:35We must balance this up. Ed Miliband.

0:47:35 > 0:47:38I mean, look, I think Caroline rather exposed David's argument.

0:47:38 > 0:47:41But I think the other thing, David, that comes across is

0:47:41 > 0:47:43it is a massive leap into the unknown.

0:47:43 > 0:47:45I've read some of the things you've said about this.

0:47:45 > 0:47:47You said we should be like Canada,

0:47:47 > 0:47:50but then people pointed out that actually, the Canadian trade deal

0:47:50 > 0:47:52has taken eight years, it isn't complete, it's got tariffs,

0:47:52 > 0:47:55so you say, "Well, maybe we shouldn't be like Canada."

0:47:55 > 0:47:57Today you're saying, "We'd be like Norway or Switzerland,"

0:47:57 > 0:48:00in a speech you made, but not really like Norway or Switzerland.

0:48:00 > 0:48:04It's some kind of unique status that only Britain is going to have

0:48:04 > 0:48:06and you can't actually tell us the country we're going to be like.

0:48:06 > 0:48:08- Which country would it be like? - Well, that's...

0:48:08 > 0:48:11- Which country would it be like? - That's because...

0:48:11 > 0:48:12APPLAUSE

0:48:12 > 0:48:18Just tell us the country! Canada? Albania? Norway, Switzerland?

0:48:18 > 0:48:19The country we're going to be like is...

0:48:19 > 0:48:22- The country we're going to be like is Great Britain.- Fine.

0:48:22 > 0:48:24LOUD CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:48:24 > 0:48:28We have an enormous spending power. You know...

0:48:28 > 0:48:32This is... This is... This is... This is...

0:48:32 > 0:48:35- This is...- It's good rhetoric, but it's not an answer.

0:48:35 > 0:48:37- This is the standard...- I'm afraid it's not an answer, David.

0:48:37 > 0:48:39This is the standard response. Every time...

0:48:39 > 0:48:41- Every time... - AUDIENCE MEMBER HECKLES

0:48:41 > 0:48:43- Every time... - Just say one country.

0:48:43 > 0:48:46Just one country whose trading arrangements we'd be like.

0:48:46 > 0:48:47It's a fair question.

0:48:47 > 0:48:50Every time...every time we offer an example of something which works,

0:48:50 > 0:48:52they say, "Oh, you're going to be like them."

0:48:52 > 0:48:54So, for example...

0:48:54 > 0:48:55- CAROLINE:- You haven't offered an example.

0:48:55 > 0:48:58I have lots of examples. He's talked about them.

0:48:58 > 0:49:01Switzerland, Canada, Chile...

0:49:01 > 0:49:03You don't want Switzerland, though, really, do you?

0:49:03 > 0:49:06What we're saying is other countries prove that things can be done...

0:49:06 > 0:49:09But you can't name a single country other than Great Britain

0:49:09 > 0:49:11whose trading arrangements with the EU we'll be like.

0:49:11 > 0:49:14- I think that's really important for the audience.- All right.

0:49:14 > 0:49:16There's no country in the whole world

0:49:16 > 0:49:19that has trading arrangements with the EU which he wants to emulate.

0:49:19 > 0:49:22Now, if that isn't a leap into the unknown and a massive risk,

0:49:22 > 0:49:23I don't know what is.

0:49:23 > 0:49:25CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Steve Hilton.

0:49:25 > 0:49:28I don't think that one's going anywhere, Steve Hilton.

0:49:28 > 0:49:30I want to say something on trade in a second,

0:49:30 > 0:49:32but just on this point of what's the alternative -

0:49:32 > 0:49:34the best thing that I've read about this

0:49:34 > 0:49:36and I can't remember who said it,

0:49:36 > 0:49:39was that it is really the most stupid question out, which is -

0:49:39 > 0:49:42- what's the alternative to being in...- Attack the question.

0:49:42 > 0:49:43No, not the question here,

0:49:43 > 0:49:45the question that YOU posed, which is -

0:49:45 > 0:49:47what's the alternative to being in the EU?

0:49:47 > 0:49:48- AUDIENCE MEMBER SHOUTS OUT - Hang on...

0:49:48 > 0:49:51The alternative to being in the EU is NOT being in the EU.

0:49:51 > 0:49:54- ED:- Oh, for goodness' sake! - And most of the countries...

0:49:54 > 0:49:56- And what does it look like? - It looks like...

0:49:56 > 0:49:57It looks like no environmental policy,

0:49:57 > 0:49:59it looks like getting rid of the Social Chapter,

0:49:59 > 0:50:03it looks like having no workers' rights protected at EU level.

0:50:03 > 0:50:06Well, most of the countries in the world are not in the EU

0:50:06 > 0:50:08and they are doing better than the EU.

0:50:08 > 0:50:10Now, on the trade question, um... I just wanted to offer...

0:50:10 > 0:50:13- ED:- But can you answer the question that he didn't answer?

0:50:13 > 0:50:15- Which is... - He's got it right!

0:50:15 > 0:50:18The country that we'd be like is our own country, it's...

0:50:18 > 0:50:20- DAVID DAVIS:- Absolutely... - CHEERING

0:50:20 > 0:50:21It's such a silly... Honestly...

0:50:21 > 0:50:26Please...I really, really wish that these politicians

0:50:26 > 0:50:28would just stop treating us like idiots.

0:50:28 > 0:50:30The point you're making is completely ridiculous.

0:50:30 > 0:50:32- No, it isn't. - Of course it is.

0:50:32 > 0:50:34- It's a very simple point. - We'd be like our own country!

0:50:34 > 0:50:37No, but as we look around the world, Steve, it's a serious point...

0:50:37 > 0:50:38As we look round the world,

0:50:38 > 0:50:40with the different trading arrangements,

0:50:40 > 0:50:42because trade is fundamental to this,

0:50:42 > 0:50:45what country do we want to emulate when it comes to our relationship

0:50:45 > 0:50:47- outside the EU with the EU? - It's the...

0:50:47 > 0:50:49And there's no point in saying Britain

0:50:49 > 0:50:51because we're in the EU at the moment, in the single market...

0:50:51 > 0:50:53- MAN:- Not for long, sonny!

0:50:53 > 0:50:55OK. Sorry, can I just, on the trade...?

0:50:55 > 0:50:57All right. Just briefly, then I'll come to you.

0:50:57 > 0:50:59There's a particular thing. I just wanted to offer

0:50:59 > 0:51:02a perspective on this question of trading arrangements.

0:51:02 > 0:51:04- All right. - Because there's a particular vanity

0:51:04 > 0:51:07that I have noticed about politicians,

0:51:07 > 0:51:10which is that they believe that the whole world

0:51:10 > 0:51:12revolves around what they decide and what they do...

0:51:12 > 0:51:14- SOME APPLAUSE - ..and they think that

0:51:14 > 0:51:17- the only good things that happen... - Is David Cameron like that then?

0:51:17 > 0:51:19- Hang on a second... - Is David Cameron like that?

0:51:19 > 0:51:21He's the exception, he's the exception(!)

0:51:21 > 0:51:24The only good things in the world come from the decisions they make

0:51:24 > 0:51:27and the rules they do and the things that they set up.

0:51:27 > 0:51:31The truth is that our success as an economy, more than anything else,

0:51:31 > 0:51:34depends on something that is known as comparative advantage.

0:51:34 > 0:51:37In simple terms, are we designing and making things

0:51:37 > 0:51:39that the rest of the world wants to buy?

0:51:39 > 0:51:43That's within our control and that's the fundamental point here,

0:51:43 > 0:51:46that WE need to make our economy more productive

0:51:46 > 0:51:50by the policies that we implement here in this country

0:51:50 > 0:51:52- and then that is what will lead to our success.- OK.

0:51:52 > 0:51:54APPLAUSE Points of view...

0:51:55 > 0:51:59I...I think that most people that are on the fence

0:51:59 > 0:52:02need to make a calculated decision

0:52:02 > 0:52:04and to do that, you need to calculate the risks.

0:52:04 > 0:52:08At least the Remain campaign is trying to quantify

0:52:08 > 0:52:11what it would be if we leave the EU.

0:52:11 > 0:52:13But what I hear from the Exit campaign

0:52:13 > 0:52:16is all this airy-fairy, "Follow me into La-La land"

0:52:16 > 0:52:18type of conversations, and I...

0:52:18 > 0:52:21I haven't heard anything... anything from you,

0:52:21 > 0:52:24apart from Great Britain will be fine in the rest of the world.

0:52:24 > 0:52:27You know, "We're going to be the Great Britain of old".

0:52:27 > 0:52:29I haven't heard anything, any real argument against that...

0:52:29 > 0:52:31Oh, not against that, but for that...

0:52:31 > 0:52:34And Mr Davis, I have to disagree with you -

0:52:34 > 0:52:35government doesn't know best,

0:52:35 > 0:52:38because the Tory government dismantled the NHS perfectly well.

0:52:38 > 0:52:42LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

0:52:42 > 0:52:45The woman in the back in red. We've only got a few moments left.

0:52:45 > 0:52:47The woman in red there at the very back. Yes.

0:52:47 > 0:52:50Something that none of the politicians here have mentioned

0:52:50 > 0:52:56is the fact that the Germans have a black bank balance,

0:52:56 > 0:52:59which roughly equals the sum of the total

0:52:59 > 0:53:03of the red bank balances in the other 27 countries.

0:53:03 > 0:53:05That, for me, speaks for itself.

0:53:05 > 0:53:08- SOME APPLAUSE - Europe's good for Germany.- OK.

0:53:08 > 0:53:12Um, and you, sir, up there. On the far right.

0:53:12 > 0:53:15I just think Ed Miliband's comments are a classic example

0:53:15 > 0:53:20of the Remain camp's position of doing our country down.

0:53:20 > 0:53:24We are the fifth-largest economy in the world

0:53:24 > 0:53:26and the sooner we get out, the better,

0:53:26 > 0:53:29get our seat back on the World Trade Organisation

0:53:29 > 0:53:31and get our identity back.

0:53:31 > 0:53:32Vote Leave!

0:53:32 > 0:53:35OK. And you. SOME CHEERING

0:53:37 > 0:53:39The woman in grey there, yes.

0:53:39 > 0:53:45You talked about the Remain campaign treating people like idiots,

0:53:45 > 0:53:47when the Leave campaign has used

0:53:47 > 0:53:49the most pathetic arguments for staying in.

0:53:49 > 0:53:53Boris Johnson's talking about how big bunches of bananas can be.

0:53:53 > 0:53:56- It's pathetic. - STEVE:- I agree, by the way.

0:53:56 > 0:53:58CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:53:58 > 0:54:01I...I agree. I've talked about both campaigns doing that,

0:54:01 > 0:54:03just to be clear.

0:54:03 > 0:54:05We have a question. We don't have time to take it,

0:54:05 > 0:54:08but perhaps the panel can comment on it -

0:54:08 > 0:54:11whether scare stories are having a detrimental effect

0:54:11 > 0:54:13on people's perception of politics,

0:54:13 > 0:54:16And also, whether the Conservative Party can ever reunite

0:54:16 > 0:54:20after the insults that they're hurling at each other.

0:54:20 > 0:54:22What do you think?

0:54:22 > 0:54:23Which would you like to ask?

0:54:23 > 0:54:26Either question, I don't care which you answer!

0:54:26 > 0:54:28Well, of course it's going to be difficult...

0:54:28 > 0:54:31The perception of politics is being diminished by the exaggeration

0:54:31 > 0:54:33and the Tory Party won't hold together.

0:54:33 > 0:54:35I think, actually, that is a fair point,

0:54:35 > 0:54:37that this battle, to some extent,

0:54:37 > 0:54:40is diminishing confidence in politicians.

0:54:40 > 0:54:43I think there's no doubt that's true.

0:54:43 > 0:54:46And partly... It's not just British politicians,

0:54:46 > 0:54:50I mean, I remember when Obama came over, he made his comments,

0:54:50 > 0:54:53there was a very short sort of 5% blip, as people said,

0:54:53 > 0:54:56"Oh, yeah. Oh, that-that frightens us."

0:54:56 > 0:54:58But then about a week later, they said,

0:54:58 > 0:55:01"Well, what's it got to do with him and what's he know anyway?"

0:55:01 > 0:55:04So there was a sort of clear resentment, really,

0:55:04 > 0:55:07at being told what to think and being told what to do

0:55:07 > 0:55:12and having these huge and unfounded scare stories run.

0:55:12 > 0:55:13- So, yes, I do think...- OK.

0:55:13 > 0:55:15Steve Hilton, do you think the Conservatives

0:55:15 > 0:55:18will be able to come back from an issue that's so divided them?

0:55:18 > 0:55:21Uh, I do, um, because there are really important, big things

0:55:21 > 0:55:23that the Government wants to get done

0:55:23 > 0:55:25and that will go on afterwards.

0:55:25 > 0:55:27But I also wanted to comment on the question about politics

0:55:27 > 0:55:30because I think it is really worrying what's happening.

0:55:30 > 0:55:34Um...I've talked earlier about the scare stories

0:55:34 > 0:55:35and the phoney figures and all the rest of it,

0:55:35 > 0:55:37and the fact that both campaigns, I think,

0:55:37 > 0:55:39are making this far too simple.

0:55:39 > 0:55:41But I think that what that really means

0:55:41 > 0:55:44is that people just are turned off by the whole thing,

0:55:44 > 0:55:46they don't want to go into politics at all,

0:55:46 > 0:55:48they don't want to participate

0:55:48 > 0:55:52and there's a point underlying it that I think is really important

0:55:52 > 0:55:55for us all to understand, which is - why do they do it?

0:55:55 > 0:55:56These are smart people.

0:55:56 > 0:55:59They can see that what they're doing is ridiculous and silly.

0:55:59 > 0:56:00Are they all smart, really?

0:56:00 > 0:56:02They are smart and well-intentioned,

0:56:02 > 0:56:05they're good people on all sides, they want to do their best.

0:56:05 > 0:56:07And they know that this stuff is ridiculous,

0:56:07 > 0:56:09even as they're saying it. And the question is...

0:56:09 > 0:56:11Isn't that a bit rich coming from you...?

0:56:11 > 0:56:13- I've owned up to my role in that. - You did that, didn't you?

0:56:13 > 0:56:16- Completely.- Devil eyes, what was that thing, with Blair...?

0:56:16 > 0:56:18Absolutely. Labour's tax bombshell, you'd pay £1,000...

0:56:18 > 0:56:21I've been involved in all this stuff, OK, for years.

0:56:21 > 0:56:23And I can now, with a bit of detachment,

0:56:23 > 0:56:26see and own up to the fact that that has been a trend

0:56:26 > 0:56:28that I think has been damaging,

0:56:28 > 0:56:31and it's got worse and worse in this campaign...

0:56:31 > 0:56:34- Hang on one second, I think... - We've got to stop.- I just think...

0:56:34 > 0:56:35Very quick. AUDIENCE MEMBER SHOUTS OUT

0:56:35 > 0:56:39- Wait a second...- Very quick. - The thing is that, actually,

0:56:39 > 0:56:43what they're counting on is that you are not sufficiently interested

0:56:43 > 0:56:46in the serious arguments and that you will fall for it

0:56:46 > 0:56:49cos they believe that you want simple, superficial things...

0:56:49 > 0:56:50Yeah, well, the evidence...

0:56:50 > 0:56:52You've got to show them that that is not true.

0:56:52 > 0:56:55The evidence of the Question Time audience is the exact opposite,

0:56:55 > 0:56:58which is people are absolutely fascinated by the arguments.

0:56:58 > 0:56:59Exactly. But that's why they need to stop...

0:56:59 > 0:57:02A very quick word cos we really are over time now.

0:57:02 > 0:57:03Yeah, cos I'm the non-politician here,

0:57:03 > 0:57:05I'm not even a Westminster insider

0:57:05 > 0:57:10and one of the reasons that I decided to leave was,

0:57:10 > 0:57:13all the politicians, they were just arguing amongst themselves,

0:57:13 > 0:57:15and it was men, it wasn't women.

0:57:15 > 0:57:17Men predominantly from down south.

0:57:17 > 0:57:19Wasn't a geographical spread of people.

0:57:19 > 0:57:22I turned my TV off and I went and did my own research,

0:57:22 > 0:57:25- and that's how I got to the position that I got to.- OK. And, Ed...

0:57:25 > 0:57:27- CAROLINE:- Can I...? - Yeah, very brief...

0:57:27 > 0:57:30All right. Very briefly, 30 seconds.

0:57:30 > 0:57:32My 30-second pitch is that I do think that this campaign

0:57:32 > 0:57:35desperately needs more optimism and it needs more vision

0:57:35 > 0:57:37and I want to say that I think it is actually quite extraordinary

0:57:37 > 0:57:40that 28 countries, that until very recently,

0:57:40 > 0:57:42actually used to try to solve their problems by fighting,

0:57:42 > 0:57:44by bullets and bombs, are now actually trying

0:57:44 > 0:57:47to find their solutions through discussion and debate...

0:57:47 > 0:57:49Sometimes it might be a bit cumbersome,

0:57:49 > 0:57:52- but actually, it's a better way of doing things.- OK.

0:57:52 > 0:57:55Do you want to just say, "So be it"? You agree?

0:57:55 > 0:57:58I agree with Caroline. Look, there has been too much negativity

0:57:58 > 0:57:59on both sides of this argument.

0:57:59 > 0:58:02World War III and Hitler on each side of the argument.

0:58:02 > 0:58:06And actually, there is a positive vision of an EU

0:58:06 > 0:58:10that works for people and is changed on climate change, on tax avoidance,

0:58:10 > 0:58:12on prosperity, on all of those things.

0:58:12 > 0:58:13I don't like the EU the way it is -

0:58:13 > 0:58:16- we've got to change it and make it better.- OK, thank you.

0:58:16 > 0:58:18CHEERING Right.

0:58:18 > 0:58:20Thank you very much.

0:58:20 > 0:58:25We've... I'm sorry, and I'm sorry, and I'm sorry... Um...

0:58:25 > 0:58:27- DAVID DAVIS: - We've been trying for 20 years!

0:58:27 > 0:58:30Our...our hour's up, unfortunately.

0:58:30 > 0:58:31Now, we're going to be in Cardiff next week.

0:58:31 > 0:58:34We have Frank Field for Labour,

0:58:34 > 0:58:37we have Neil Hamilton, the former Tory MP,

0:58:37 > 0:58:39now Ukip's leader in the Welsh Assembly.

0:58:39 > 0:58:41And then Folkestone the week after that.

0:58:41 > 0:58:44So, if you want to come either to Cardiff or Folkestone,

0:58:44 > 0:58:46or remember the week after that, those three sites -

0:58:46 > 0:58:48Nottingham, York and Milton Keynes -

0:58:48 > 0:58:51go to our website, or you can call the number...

0:58:53 > 0:58:555 Live listeners, as you know,

0:58:55 > 0:58:58this debate carries on to the early hours.

0:58:58 > 0:58:59But here, our time's up.

0:58:59 > 0:59:01I'm sad about it.

0:59:01 > 0:59:04Our panel, I thank them very much indeed for coming

0:59:04 > 0:59:09and to all of you who came to Ipswich or have come from Ipswich

0:59:09 > 0:59:11to be here tonight, many thanks.

0:59:11 > 0:59:13Until next Thursday, from Question Time, goodnight.

0:59:13 > 0:59:16APPLAUSE