Advertisement

  1. National

EU row: Cameron has 'low opinion of British people'

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has accused the Prime Minister of having "a low opinion of the British people" by downplaying the UK's prospects if it left the EU.

It comes after a Sunday newspaper column in which David Cameron accused MPs backing an EU exit of wanting to take "the gamble of the century" with the country's future.

Amid rising tensions between the pro- and anti-Brexit camps, Mr Cameron has reportedly been threatened with a challenge to his leadership unless he tones down attacks on MPs backing the "leave" campaign.

View all 230 updates ›

Europol: EU exit will weaken UK's ability to fight terror

Police would find it harder to prevent militant attacks and fight organised crime if Britain votes to leave the European Union, the head of the EU-wide police body has said.

Europol director Rob Wainwright said Britain's ability to share intelligence would need to be replaced, in comments that will be seen as a blow to claims of Eurosceptics.

Pro-exit campaigner Iain Duncan Smith has claimed failing to leave will increase the risk of Paris-style attacks occurring in Britain.

The comments of Europol director Rob Wainwright, who used to head Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency, will be welcomed by the remain campaign. Credit: PA Archive

But Mr Wainwright said: "If you take that infrastructure that (the British police) have helped to design over the past 40 years, it would make the United Kingdom's job harder to protect citizens from terror."

Mr Wainwright said Britain was already free to impose tougher border controls as a non-member of the passport-free Schengen zone.

He accepted Britain "could choose different immigration and visa policies" upon leaving the EU but said the country would remain vulnerable to "clandestine criminal networks smuggling people" if it was in or out.

  1. Read more
  2. 230 updates
EU row: Cameron has 'low opinion of British people' #EUref

More on this story