Sorry, about what?
The less well-known of the two major campaigns for Brexit, which held a launch event yesterday. Leave.EU is seeking official designation as the main "leave" campaign for the upcoming EU membership referendum and was co-founded by businessman and Ukip donor Arron Banks. The key figures involved in the campaign are very keen to stress that it is a "people's campaign;" apparently it is looking for figures from all walks of life, from businesspeople to UK border guards, to put its messages forward, rather than just politicians. Vote Leave, the other major pro-Brexit campaign, enjoys cross-party political support from MPs. You might remember Leave.EU under its old name of "TheKnow.eu,"
which was shelved after the choice on the ballot paper was changed from Yes/No to Leave/Remain.
Who's involved?
The team on show yesterday was more about back-office brain power than showcasing any star turns. The campaign has recruited Gerry Gunster, President of US campaigns firm Goddard Gunster, to help with strategy. Gunter, whose company's slogan is "get used to winning," counts the blocking of taxes on sugary drinks in several US states among his past victories. Cambridge Analytica, a voter messaging agency which
has reportedly also worked with US Presidential contender Ted Cruz, is on board. A name that might be more familiar to British politicos is Ian Warren, a self-taught demographer who tweets and blogs as
@election_data. Warren worked for Ukip on the breakout success of their campaign in the Heywood and Middleton by-election last year, before jumping ship to Labour to help them stave off threats from Ukip and the Greens in the general election. Warren will help the Leave.EU campaign to target all-important voters in the English regions: Brexit campaigners need to make headway in provincial England to counterbalance the pro-EU majority in London and the other UK nations. Banks himself functions as a spokesman for the campaign, along with CEO Liz Bilney and Director Richard Tice.
What about Nigel Farage?
Also present yesterday—though in the audience rather than onstage—was the Ukip leader, along with a gaggle of backroom staff. Ukip says it will lend support to any campaign looking for Brexit, while also running its own campaign including an ongoing Farage speaking tour. Perhaps predictably, Farage soaked up most of the media attention after the event. But Leave.EU is keen to stress that it is not formally allied to any party, not even the Eurosceptic Ukip. As to whether Farage will be a prominent voice in the Brexit debate outside of Ukip's independent campaign, we'll have to wait and see. One Leave.EU insider told me that Farage is personally unpopular with the Labour voters the campaign needs to win over.
