Despite repeated warnings, Vote Leave continues to use the inaccurate claim that the UK sends £50m a day to the EU

The Vote Leave campaign has, yet again, been criticised by the UK Statistics Authority over its claim that the UK sends £350m a week to the European Union.

Sir Andrew Dilnot, chair of the authority, commented:

“As we have made clear, the UK’s contribution to the EU is paid after the application of the rebate. We have also pointed out that there are payments received by the UK public and private sectors that are relevant here. The continued use of a gross figure in contexts that imply it is a net figure is misleading and undermines trust in official statistics.”

The statistic is still being widely used by Vote Leave in its campaign materials and social media communications, as well as being plastered across the side of the Brexit battle bus.

We send the EU £50 million a day – let’s fund our NHS instead. @vote_leave pic.twitter.com/QQ8ijhJO0m — Douglas Carswell MP (@DouglasCarswell) May 26, 2016

The statistic was introduced into last night’s BBC debate by a pro-Leave audience member, suggesting that despite its inaccuracy, the figure has been lodged in people’s minds by repeated use.

Norman Lamb, the Lib Dem MP who first wrote to the UK Statistics Authority to raise the issue in April, said:

“This is an unprecedented intervention from the UK’s highest statistics authority, who for the third time have felt the need to expose Vote Leave over their shameless attempts to mislead the British people.”

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