'No big institutions back Brexit,” a fellow journalist barked in my face at a drinks party last week.

As I tried to respond, the point was repeated, this time more aggressively. “No big institutions want Brexit – not the CBI, the big banks or accountancy firms, they all think it’s mad.”

With less than seven weeks until the UK’s referendum on European Union membership, the rhetorical battle-lines are drawn.

The main strategy of the Government and broader Remain camp is “Project Fear” – scaring ordinary voters they’ll be thousands of pounds poorer each year if we leave.

Such psychological bombardment – presenting self-serving and deeply dubious forecasts as “fact” – will continue all the way to June 23.

Then there are the various sub-narratives – pithy phrases, again relentlessly repeated, designed to convey the impression they seal the argument.

“The big institutions all reject Brexit,” is one, of course. “Denying the free movement of people shows intolerance” is another, combining the unspoken yet potent accusation of racism.

“Brexit would spark a repeat Scottish referendum, splitting the UK” works well on patriotic-yet-undecided voters.

“No one knows what Brexit looks like – let’s stay with what we know,” is also often used, appealing to the UK’s inherent conservatism.