Question Time in Westminster Hall. Credit: Dominic Lipinski / PA Images
The majority of people in Britain are wrong about a significant number of key facts regarding the EU, according to an Independent report published on 10 June. On average, the public thinks that 15% of the British population is made up of EU migrants, or 10.5m people. The correct figure is 3.5m. Almost half of the population overestimate the amount of child benefit sent overseas by nearly 40 times. And 63% of people think the UK leaving the EU will reduce immigration, an assurance that the Leave camp has consistently failed to give.
That people should be wrong about so many key issues at such an important stage in the vote is worrying, but it’s also not surprising. It’s unlikely anyone would argue that the debate surrounding the EU referendum has been anything other than a series of claims and counterclaims leaving voters largely uninformed about the choice they will be making.
