Prime Minister appeals to Saga Magazine readers to vote Remain
As the referendum date nears, and the debate reaches boiling point, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, and Vote Leave chief executive, Matthew Elliott, have gone head to head in Saga Magazine to try to persuade its nearly 1 million readers to vote for their side.
The over 50s will be key to the outcome of the June 23 vote. A new Saga Populus Poll of 8,650 over 50s, shows that more are making up their mind about which way to cast their ballot with the number of undecided falling from 14% to 12%. Overall 42% say they will vote for the UK to remain a member of the European Union in June’s Referendum – up from 41% in April. Support for Brexit also nudged up by a point to 46%.
Lance Batchelor, Saga’s chief executive, commented:
“It is real testament to the importance of the over 50s that two of the most influential figures in the EU referendum debate have chosen to talk to Saga Magazine. As the Saga Generations are significantly more likely to vote in the upcoming election, our EU destiny really is in their hands.”
Pensions
In the article in the June edition of Saga Magazine, David Cameron warns that, “a vote to leave would put pensions at risk. Everyone – even those who want to leave – accepts there would be an economic shock. We owe it to all the people who have worked hard and saved all their lives to find dignity in retirement.”
“By leaving the EU and increasing our trade with the rest of the world, we would become far less vulnerable to being dragged down by the Eurozone crisis,” counters Matthew Elliott. “The value of pensions and investments depends above all on the fundamentals of the British economy.”
House prices
The economic uncertainty caused by Brexit could “include increases in mortgage rates”, warns Mr Cameron.
“The value of your home will be far more affected by the strength of the economy and British decisions on housing policy,” says Mr Elliott.
Travel: When asked how Britons would be viewed by other Europeans if we leave the EU, the Prime Minister replies that “the majority want us to remain”, adding “it is possible that you might find it more difficult and you will likely find it more expensive to travel around Europe than you do now.” Benefits such as access to healthcare and reduced phone charges may also be threatened, he adds.
“I am sure we will continue to get a friendly welcome [from Europeans],” says Matthew Elliott. The only change we may detect is a “sneaking admiration that our country had the self-confidence to make a democratic choice for its future.”
Care
Leaving the EU could lead to visa and residency permit issues for the 100,000 skilled EU workers in our care industry, says Mr Cameron, causing an “unpredictable effect on frontline services”.
“There is no question of throwing out Europeans who are already living here,” argues Matthew Elliott.
Turkey
On the possible influx of Turks to Britain if Turkey joins the EU, Matthew Elliott points out that “Theresa May was right to warn that allowing countries such as Albania, Serbia and Turkey into the EU could undermine our security. Our NHS and public services are already under pressure from high levels of migration.”
“Turkey’s membership of the EU is not on the cards for many years to come,” replies Mr Cameron. “There remains a very significant amount of work to do before Turkey would be ready. Every country – including the UK – has a veto at every stage of the process … we are able to influence the pace of the negotiations.”
The one thing the two camps did agree on resoundingly was that whichever way we vote in the upcoming election, the UK will remain a strong, successful nation. “The question isn’t whether we could succeed outside Europe,” says Mr Cameron. “The question is where we will best succeed.”
For full interviews, see the June issue of Saga Magazine, or visit www.saga.co.uk/eu-referendum
