EU referendum: £9m taxpayer-funded publicity blitz pushes case to remain

It was announced on the 6 April 2016 that all households in the United Kingdom would receive a UK-government financed booklet / leaflet called 'Why the Government Believes That Voting to Remain in the EU is the Best Decision for the UK' making the case for the country to remain in the European Union. This was to be part of a government campaign which would also include social media and a new website.

Eurosceptic and Leave campaign groups criticised the move as discriminatory.

Separately, the Electoral Commission distributed to all addresses in the UK on the Electoral Register from the 16 May 2016 a eight-page booklet giving advice on who could vote, how to register and a page on each of the lead campaigns.

EUObserver, 07.04.16: Leaflet wars mark UK referendum campaign https://euobserver.com/political/132958

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Are phone polls more accurate than internet polls in the EU referendum? http://www.europeansources.info/record/are-phone-polls-more-accurate-than-internet-polls-in-the-eu-referendum/

BBC News, 07.04.16: EU referendum: Government to spend £9m on leaflets to every home http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35980571

The Telegraph, 07.04.16: 'Biased and hysterical': Government's £9million anti-Brexit letter sparks fury http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/07/politics-live-governments-9million-anti-brexit-letter-sparks-fur/

ESO: Background information: Website: EU Referendum, 23 June 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-eu-referendum-23-june-2016/

EurActiv, 08.04.16: Brexit campaigners cry foul over Cameron’s pro-EU mailshot http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/brexit-campaigners-cry-foul-over-camerons-pro-eu-mailshot/

Full Fact, 07.04.16: The government's EU referendum leaflet: what we know so far https://fullfact.org/europe/governments-eu-referendum-leaflet-what-we-know-so-far/

Full Fact, 07.04.16: Who’s getting taxpayers’ money in the EU referendum? https://fullfact.org/europe/whos-getting-taxpayers-money-eu-referendum/

Blog: UK in a Changing Europe, 08.04.16: Response to Government leaflet from the UK in a Changing Europe http://ukandeu.ac.uk/response-to-government-leaflet-from-the-uk-in-a-changing-europe/

The Guardian, 16.04.16: Boris Johnson renews attack on PM over EU referendum leaflet http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/apr/16/boris-johnson-renews-attack-on-pm-over-eu-referendum-leaflet

UK: Parliament: House of Commons: Library: Briefing Paper, No.7579 (04.05.16): The Government leaflet on the EU Referendum http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7579/CBP-7579.pdf

Full Fact, 08.05.16: The government's EU leaflet: introduction https://fullfact.org/europe/governments-eu-leaflet-introduction/

BBC News, 15.05.16: Voters to receive 'impartial guide' to EU referendum http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36286993

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