The latest issue of The New European, the weekly newspaper dedicated to reversing the EU referendum result, carries an attack on national titles responsible for “brainwashing Britain over immigration.”

In what it calls “a special investigation into the real Project Fear”, the paper has devoted its front page and four inside pages to the subject.

It has reproduced scores of front pages, mostly from the Daily Express, which have promoted anti-migrant stories and, arguably, distorted the debate about immigration in the run-up to the 23 June vote.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The full front page. Photograph: Archant

The piece was written by Liz Gerard, the former Times and Sunday Times subeditor, who has carried out extensive research into the way in which the Express and Daily Mail, with occasional assistance from other titles, have created a climate of fear about immigrants.

In a series of articles on her sub-scribe blog she has chronicled the relentless catalogue of negative stories about migrants, many of which have been suspiciously short on facts.

The underlying message of her piece is that the referendum result was unduly influenced by the misinformation and disinformation about immigration published in several rightwing titles.

Editor Matt Kelly said: “When you see the front pages laid out together it is a stark image. It show just how insidious this campaign has been, working away inside people’s heads and make them fearful of migrants.

“I think a lot people now feel they were manipulated. And we are all reaping the consequences.”

Kelly, a former Trinity Mirror executive, had not expected his so-called “pop-up paper” to last beyond four issues after it was launched in early July by Archant following the Brexit vote.

But it appears to have caught the imagination of thousands of people drawn to its pro-remain agenda. Similarly, it has attracted a number of high-profile writers.



In the latest issue, there are also articles by Bonnie Greer, GQ editor Dylan Jones and the Observer’s columnist Barbara Ellen, who argues that Brexiteers do not own the monopoly on patriotism.

Although sales figures have not been made public, it is believed to be selling around 25,000 copies a week after an initial launch sale of 40,000.

It did poorly in August, but retailers report that sales of the title, with a cover price of £2, have begun to rise in recent weeks.