Joe Otten of Sheffield Liberal Democrats writes...

Until now the economic argument in this EU referendum has been whether you believe the experts – whose reputations depend on the quality of their prognostications – or whether you believe that an ‘expert’ is someone who automatically has less expertise than everybody else.

Just to summarise, thanks to Sky News:

• International Monetary Fund – Britain could cause “severe regional and global damage by disrupting established trading relationships”, should it vote to leave the EU. “Negotiations on post exit arrangements would likely be protracted, resulting in an extended period of heightened uncertainty that could weigh heavily on confidence and investment, all the while increasing financial market volatility.” The consequences ranged from “pretty bad to very, very bad”, managing director, Christine Lagarde added
• PWC for the Confederation of British Industry – GDP down 3 to 5% by 2020, 5% corresponding to 950,000 jobs and £100bn lost.
• Institute For Fiscal Studies – Brexit would cost the UK between £20bn and £40bn, according to the IFS. The Government would need to find equivalent of £5bn of public spending cuts, £5bn worth of savings from social security spending and roll out tax hikes worth £5bn – two more years of austerity – to cover the cost.
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – GDP in the UK could be between 3-5% below the level it might have been if it had remained in the EU, equivalent to £2,200 loss per household.

  No longer need we believe them. With polls in the last few days showing a high risk of Brexit, the markets have reacted.

Bournemouth Liberal Democrats and our friends from Britain Stronger IN are carrying the fight all the way to referendum day on 23rd June.

The team from "Checkpoint Charlie" smile for the camera while, across town, more campaigners were hard at work from their stall, "Project Paddy".

Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, has appeared on BBC television today to "call out" claims being made by Boris Johnson and the rest of the Brexit campaign. Mr Farron referred to "what are, basically, lies" and made a plea for the positive message on our EU membership to be made loud and clear.

The European referendum is drawing ever closer and more and more people are turning to us to help them make up their minds which way to vote.

With less than four weeks to go until polling day, the campaign is certainly picking up the pace!

Building on the massive success of our 14 May Action Day - when we hosted more street stalls than any other political party - we are going to be hosting in the region of 150 street stalls again tomorrow to make a highly visible, positive case for Britain in Europe all across the UK.

If you want to show your support for our campaign, be sure to visit our stall in Bournemouth Square from 10am tomorrow, Saturday 28th May. We'll have leaflets, posters, balloons and stickers, so come and grab yours so you too can be a part of our #INtogether campaign.

Following on from our party's vote to ban hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in England and Wales at the Spring Conference in York, Bournemouth Liberal Democrats recently joined forces with the local Green Party outside Bournemouth Town Hall.

Bournemouth Liberal Democrats campaign for a vote to remain

We would like to congratulate all our Liberal Democrat colleagues in England on the fantastic gains made by our party in the local elections so far this year.

On Saturday 14th May hundreds of Bournemouth residents and visitors heard the case for remaining IN the EU when local Liberal Democrats enjoyed a day out in the sun.