Ballot-counting begins in European and local elections. Photo: John Giles / PA Archive/Press Association Images. All rights reservedThis is the third part of our debate about the campaigning organisations 38 Degrees’ neutral stance in the EU referendum. To read more on this, see parts one and two.
In my original contribution I criticised 38 Degrees for its neutrality during the referendum and its narrowing of the options for Brexit afterwards. I’m glad that David Babbs acknowledges problems with 38 Degrees handling of Brexit, including ‘flaws and omissions in the statements the staff team emailed out’ in its ‘DIY Brexit’ campaign. It’s particularly good that the issues I highlighted - the lack of opportunity to opt for the Single Market and freedom of movement, the false assumption that the UK will make savings from Brexit, the ‘£350 million’ figure and other deceptions of the Leave campaign - are raised (directly or indirectly) in supplementary questions on the DIY Brexit project, circulated to 38 Degrees members on 23 August. I’m pleased that he recognises the part my critique played in prompting this rethink - a rare case where writing for openDemocracy has seen such a rapid political result!
