Bob Geldof: EU debate dominated by political failures

Bob Geldof said the UK would be “seriously mad” to leave the EU as he said the debate had been dominated by political “failures”.

The Boomtown Rats star said he would be voting to stay but condemned the atmosphere around the referendum as "nasty".He said the vote was "like a civil internal war in the Conservative party that the country has been asked to settle”.

He also laid into the Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn for producing a “lacklustre” argument to stay as he argued that the campaign had seen few compelling voices.

“Why is it being left up to failures like a sacked education minister, [Michael] Gove, like a failed mayor like Boris Johnson, like a prime minister who is going to leave anyway?” he asked.

Geldof added that he would be voting to stay in to ensure that his children would be free to live and work throughout the EU.

“I really think older people should ask their children how to vote,” he added. “If you’re young, you shouldn’t let your future be dependent on old people like myself.”