EU referendum campaign officially begins

Football manager Arsene Wenger has warned that if Britain votes in favour of leaving the EU it could raise serious questions for the Premier League.

The Arsenal boss told the Guardian he felt a Brexit would lead to uncertainty over which players would need permits in future.

He said: "It raises many questions. Will the European players be considered as they are now? For example, if England votes for Brexit, will the French be considered like South American players [who require work permits]?

"That would completely re-question the influx of foreign players."

Wenger's comments came as the EU referendum campaign officially began on Friday.

Boris Johnson was heckled in Newcastle as he attacked David Cameron for "shamefully" spending £9.3 million of taxpayers' money on a pro-EU leaflet.

The London mayor criticised the "scared" tactics of the remain campaign as he continued his northern "Brexit blitz" tour.

But Boris had the start of his speech interrupted, with hecklers shouting "no Tories in Newcastle".

A group of women were escorted from the building.

Separating fact from spin is no easy task. So what about the EU referendum claims made today by both sides in the debate?

Could we free up millions for the NHS by leaving or is staying the only way to guarantee billions of pounds worth of trade deals?

ITV News presenter, Julie Etchingham reports:

Chancellor George Osborne has defended the so-called 'scare tactics' employed by the Remain camp to convince Britain to vote to stay in the European Union.

Speaking to ITV News Mr Osborne said that "the British people want the facts" adding: "There is an overwhelming view from those around the world...which is we would be worse off outside the EU and stronger, better off inside the EU."

Manchester was full of politicians on the first day of the EU referendum campaign including Brexit advocate Boris Johnson who said that the NHS would prosper from money spent in Brussels.

Meanwhile, the Stronger In campaign stuck its message on the economy saying that if that suffered, so would the health service.

Across the UK, with 10 weeks to go, the clock is ticking on Britain's EU membership.

ITV News Deputy Political Editor Chris Ship reports:

Vote Leave campaigner Boris Johnson likened staying in the EU as being "locked in the back of a minicab driven by someone with a wonky satnav".

In his rallying speech in Manchester, he warned that the June 23 referendum was the "last chance" voters will have to decide about the UK's relationship with the EU.

Remain campaigners who say the EU is not perfect but there is no alternative are the "Gerald Ratners" of modern politics, he added.

He said: "They keep saying that they are Eurosceptics, but we have no choice, we agree with you about the democratic problem, they say - but it's the price we have to pay."

Boris Johnson, who announced he is backing the Vote Leave campaign in the EU referendum, is making a speech on the first day of campaigning in Manchester.

Watch his speech live at the Old Granada Studios, Manchester:

• The live broadcast has now ended.

The Leave and Remain EU camps have been putting forward their counter-arguments ahead of the EU referendum but how divided is opinion across Britain?

ITV News' Correspondent Martin Geissler has travelled from Lowestoft in England to Londonderry in Northern Ireland to get a snapshot of the public's view on the debate.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove, a key figure in the referendum's Vote Leave campaign said that money sent to Brussels could be better spent on the NHS.

Speaking after Vote Leave launched its advert in Manchester claiming that £350 million, £50 million a day, is handed to Brussels, he said:

The £350 million figure has been disputed by other sources that claim it does not take account of the UK's agreed rebate.

• Finding the facts: The truth behind referendum claims on the EU membership fee