DO THE CLAIMS STAND UP?

1 UK could be made to fund more bailouts

WHAT CAMERON SAYS: My renegotiation means we are categorically not liable for eurozone bailouts. WHAT VOTE LEAVE SAYS: Under the treaties of the EU, the Council of Ministers can decide by qualified majority to ‘grant’ financial assistance to a eurozone country. This will remain the case until the treaties are amended – which the PM’s deal did not fix a date to achieve. Britain secured a commitment in 2011 that the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism ‘should not be used’ to bail out the eurozone. In 2015, the Mechanism was used to grant €7.16 billion in bridging finance to Greece anyway.

2 Britain’s EU rebate is being put at risk

CAMERON: The British Prime Minister has a veto on changes to our rebate. So only a British Prime Minister could decide to give it up. VOTE LEAVE: Our rebate cannot be counted on. It could be abolished altogether in five years’ time. In 2005, Tony Blair agreed to a sharp reduction in the value of the UK’s rebate and there is nothing to stop another PM from doing the same again. George Osborne has previously said it could be a subject for renegotiation, adding: ‘It is not a unilateral decision of the British Treasury or the British Government to just say, “This is our rebate. We are entitled to it. Pay up”.’

3 We’ve given up our ability to veto treaties

CAMERON: There is absolutely nothing in the renegotiation that gives up our veto as a full member of the European Union. VOTE LEAVE: As part of his deal to exclude Britain from the commitment to evercloser union, the PM agreed to give up his veto on further centralisation by other member states. This amounts to the loss of one of our strongest cards.

4 We can’t stop overall EU spending rising

CAMERON: The budget for the current period 2014-2020 is set in stone and can only be changed with the consent of all countries. It’s wrong to claim anything different. VOTE LEAVE: The European Commission has delayed publishing its updated version of the Budget until after our referendum – suggesting it will go up. The European Union also wants to spend more on measures to cope with the immigration crisis.

5 We’d have to join a European Army

CAMERON: We have a rock-solid veto on EU foreign and defence policy initiatives. Even if it was proposed, we would veto it. VOTE LEAVE: The EU Treaties allow other member states to establish ‘permanent structured co- operation’ in defence. European leaders are due to meet to discuss a new ‘global strategy’ drawn up by the EU’s foreign policy chief shortly after the referendum.

6 We’d save billions if we left the EU

CAMERON: Almost every credible economic organisation that has looked at this has said the shock of leaving the EU would cause a black hole in the public finances and wipe out any saving that might be made. This black hole is estimated at £20-£40 billion. VOTE LEAVE: The UK would be better off to the tune of £8 billion a year if voters back a Brexit because we would no longer send money to Brussels. This money could instead be spent on public services.