Bungling Cameron’s Project Fear drive made Britons MORE LIKELY to vote Brexit, study shows
DAVID Cameron’s scaremongering campaign in the build up to the EU referendum resulted in twice as many voters supporting Brexit, a report has found.
David Cameron's negative campaign caused people to back Brexit instead
The bungling former Prime Minister left possible Remain voters ill-informed and disenchanted according to research by the Electoral Reform Society (ERS).
It found nearly a third of voters – 29 per cent – said Mr Cameron’s negative lobbying for Remain as part of Project Fear made them more like to ditch the Brussels bloc.
People felt disenchanted by Project Fear, causing them to back Vote Leave
Despite splurging almost £10million on an EU propaganda blitz, just 14 per cent said Mr Cameron's campaign made them more likely to vote Remain.
Researchers said many voters “simply did not trust the veracity of certain claims made by both sides”.
They added: “Above all, what these numbers tell us is that people had by and large lost faith in established political figures as opinion-leaders – except where those figures might be said to be kicking against the establishment.
“Traditional theory on campaigning in referendums is that such figures can command considerable allegiance owing to voters’ tendency to follow political party cues.
“But such was the culture of mistrust in the EU referendum that the ‘big beast’ approach appeared to have, for the Remain side at least, the opposite of the desired effect.”
As well as the deep mistrust of politicians such as Cameron, the negative campaigning also turned voters away.
Tory MP blasts Brexit-sceptic civil servants
The reports stated: “As the race wore on, the public viewed both sides as increasingly negative. It is not clear that either side gained from this approach.”
The survey found any voters felt ill-informed about the key issues of the referendum, such as immigration and effects on workers’ rights.
Cameron's campaign was said to be 'untrustworthy'
This report shows without a shadow of a doubt just how dire the EU referendum debate really was
Kate Ghose, chief executive of the ERS said: “This report shows without a shadow of a doubt just how dire the EU referendum debate really was.
“There were glaring democratic deficiencies in the run-up to the vote, with the public feeling totally ill-informed.”