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David Cameron and Nigel Farage EU debate
David Cameron and Nigel Farage will argue their respective arguments to Remain and Leave the EU at an ITV debate Getty

David Cameron and Nigel Farage went head-to-head for their respective Remain and Leave campaigns in an EU debate on ITV.

Farage said he had been "demonised" for his views on immigration while Cameron said there were "good and bad ways" to handle immigration but he didn't back a "Little England" stance.

They took questions from the studio audience of 200 in the event moderated by ITV News presenter Julie Etchingham moderating.

The pair spent the day in London encouraging voters to register before tonight's (7 June) midnight deadline. Cameron urged the electorate to not "sit on the sidelines" while Farage unveiled a poster claiming his opponent wanted "what was best for the EU".

Follow our live blog for all the talking points as IBTimes UK senior politics reporter Ian Silvera provides updates from the "Spin Room" in Westminster.

That's all folks...

The live blog has come to an end but stay with IBTimes UK for reaction and updates from Westminster.

Snap reaction

Steven Woolfe MEP, Ukip's migration spokesman, said Farage's patriotism shone through.

"Nigel came out as a man that believes in Britain, who believes in the strength and opportunities the country would have leaving the EU.

"He believes that we could trade with the world, have a more fair and ethical immigration policy that treats the Commonwealth and those in the EU equally compared to someone like Cameron, who kept repeating the same mantra that we are a weak country, that we would be a feeble country and we would be lesser country by leaving the EU.

amber rudd energy secretary
Amber Rudd said David Cameron was right to focus on the economy Reuters

Snap reaction

Speaking to IBTimes UK's Ian Silvera, energy secretary Amber Rudd said Cameron was right to focus on the economy.

"I don't think you can talk about the EU without talking about the benefits to people's everyday lives.

"What matters to people are jobs, are prices, are investment in our hospitals and in our schools so it is linked to the economy and it would be misleading to separate out these issues. It's right that [the prime minister] brings it back to people's everyday lives, which is attached to the economy.

"Immigration is important, there are many other issues which are important, but the most important thing about our membership of the EU is access to this extraordinary large single-market which gives us prosperity."

And that's the end of that. In the immediate aftermath it looks like Cameron, who looked pretty pleased with himself, won that one. Farage was on the defensive almost immediately during his exchanges, especially when pushed on Ukip's record on ethnic minorities.

Stand out moments included the prime minister admitting the EU was "frustrating" but that Britain was in a better position to push with reform from inside the EU. Farage meanwhile called for a return of British passports "so we can check anyone else coming in".

David Cameron

Cameron: This is a vote of British people...what I have said is that I will accept your instructions. I wan't people to focus on the choice of Farage and job losses or the extraordinary alliance [supporting Remain].

If we leave we will see our economy suffer...the British thing to do is to stay in and fight for reform.

Cameron: I don't want European Parliament to have more power.

Does Brussels need reform? Yes. Is it frustrating? Yes...but you have to ask yourself are we stronger and safer in?

Cameron: You hear a lot of talk about patriotism: I love this country with a passion....I do worry about a second Scottish independence referendum.

Sometimes it makes me mad, it is frustrating...but walking away would damage our country.

Cameron: I have not made forecast on immigration because of extraordinary times.

Cameron: I think we do have special status in EU. We don't have Euro, kept borders out of ever closer union.

Things I secured really do help us. We are safeguarded and can't be discriminated against...If we leave the reform ends.

Being on the outside looking in with our faces pressed against the window is no position for the fifth biggest economy.

Uniquely in Britain you have to work for four years and pay into the system before you have full access to benefits.

Cameron: Stronger economy from being in EU funds NHS.

We should think about 50,000 foreign nationals working in NHS.

Cameron: We want to live in country called Great Britain but in a European Union without ever closer union.

Obviously the control of immigration is an important issue and one of the ways we control it is to train people here to do the jobs that are delivering the British economy.

A good way to control immigration is paying in [tax] before you get out [benefits].

I think biggest risk we can take is to pull out of EU/single market and damage jobs and the economy.

People do not want Little Britain of Nigel Farage.

David Cameron

Here's the PM...

Cameron: We can survive outside the EU but can we thrive.

There would be a hit to economy, jobs, wages and prices in shops [if we left]

There are 500m people in the single market and with less access the economy will be smaller...The experts are right

If you cut yourself off from your most important market you will be at a disadvantage

And that is the end of Farage's questions. The Ukip leader was pushed on the economy, immigration, security and sovereignty as well as recent divisive comments.

Nigel Farage
ITV

Farage: I take this very simple view. Migrant policy has led to up to 5,000 Jihadis coming into EU in last 15 months...we have a very real problem.

As a sovereign nation we cooperate with friends and neighbours just like we do with America.

On World Trade Organisation - we have no vote on it! We are sometimes asked to leave the room.

We live in an inter-dependent world but the point of the referendum is this is a vote to get independence so we can make own laws with our parliament with our own courts.

EU is "done for" it is a "catastrophe".

Farage: We see reports that say EU migrants pay more tax than they take out...Lets agree with House of Lords that on economic terms its about equal.

The real truth is that population is rising at number that we need to measure quality of life and not just GDP...Population here will rise 80m by 2040. We need to build new house every 4 minutes night and day to cope with the current numbers.

Farage: Just calm down there [to female audience member asking about Cologne-style attacks comment]...What I said is that Cologne is huge issue and Angela Merkel made a mistake.

Young single males have settled in Germany who have different attitudes to women....I do believe in balanced border controls and I do believe Germany made a mistake

I take strong pro-Commonwealth view. Bad mistake to turn back on that for EU project.

If we have Australian-style points system rather than an open door to 508m people it will actually be better for black people

Farage: It is wrong, wrong, wrong for decent hard working families to have their living standards decline by 10% in the last 10 years.

Farage: We British, we're better than that, we're not going to be bullied by anybody, least of all the unelected Jean-Claude Juncker

Nigel Farage
ITV

Farage starts by saying 25 years ago the government was backed by expert economists - including David Cameron in the Treasury - to join the Exchange Rate Mechanism. He called the decision was "stone bonkers".

He then says how experts 10 years later said the UK should join the Euro, adding "thank God we didn't join"

The Ukip leader says "Once we've divorced ammicably we will continue buying cars" ie trade will continue

Here we go...

And its Farage up first

Stephen Kinnock
British MP Stephen Kinnock said the UK would split up if we were to leave the EU Sean Gallup/ Getty Images

'Fate of the UK rests in voters' hands'

With ITV about to kicks things off, Stephen Kinnock tells Ian Silvera in the Spin Room that the very existence of the UK is at stake at the referendum:

"We are not suffering at all on the Remain side by the polls being close because what's really important is that we get our people out to vote and you wouldn't want any sense of complacency.

"I think what these polls show is that it's going down to the wire and that's good because it will drive our vote out.

"They've [Remain] got over a fortnight to save the UK because the UK would split up if we were to leave the EU.

"The urgency of that is going to be clear. It's really important people understand that and register to vote before the deadline at midnight tonight."

And this was Vote Leave's:

Stronger In have been ramping up the tweets ahead of the Q&A, here's their latest:

Chancellor George Osborne has responded to news investors appeared to have lost confidence in sterling. He said banks pulling out of sterling denominated assets was "just a taste of things to come" if the nation voted to leave the EU.

ITV EU referendum
The stage being used for the ITV EU referendum Getty

This is the stage built for tonight's show at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, east London.

Nigel arrives...

 Sir Ming Cambell
David Cameron will be buoyed by comments by Janet Yellen Getty

'It's the economy, stupid'

Speaking in the Spin Room,Liberal Democrat grandee Sir Ming Cambell said Leave will be trying to bury comments made from the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby that comments Farage made about Cologne-style attacks on women were racist.

"I think Leave will be trying to distract attention from the fact that the Archbishop of Canterbury had some quite strong language in relation to Mr Farage, who will be taking part in this debate," he said.

Sir Ming also said the prime minister can take comfort from comments by Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen, who predicted "significant economic repercussions" in the event of a Brexit.

"I think David Cameron will be more than buoyed by the fact that the chairman of the Fed [Janet Yellen] plus the former secretary-general of the World Trade Organisation came out and said Brexit would involve an impact on the economy – not just the British economy, but the world economy," he added.

"And on the day that Hilary Clinton seems to have secured the Democratic Party nomination [for US president], we'll do well to remember that her husband became president of the US on the back of the slogan: 'It's the economy, stupid'.

Sir Ming's comments come after he appeared alongside former Lib Dem leaders Paddy Ashdown and Nick Clegg and current one Tim Farron on Tuesday to show their united support for Europe.

Mark Carney Bank of England
Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England, has expressed concern about a Brexit Parliament TV

The Stronger In campaign received a boost when Bank of England governor Mark Carney stoked the ire of Brexiters by warning of threats to the British economy if they had their way.

His concerns over a plummeting Sterling have seemingly been confirmed by Sky's Ed Conway who reports "Britain's economy is facing the worst capital flight since 2009".

He says "banks are shifting almost unprecedented amounts out of sterling assets elsewhere". Banks, he suggests, are reducing their exposure in the event of a Brexit with capital flight at its highest since the Euro crisis in 2009.

Sterling flight
Patrick O'Flynn
Ukip's Patrick O'Flynn thinks Nigel Farage has the upper hand in the ITV Q&A Getty

'Farage has upper hand'

IBTimes UK's Ian Silvera has arrived at the Spin Room in Westminster where he has spoken with Ukip MEP and former party economics spokesman Patrick O'Flynn. He says Farage's knowledge of the EU gives him an advantage over the PM.

"I think Nigel would have preferred a face-to-face debate with David Cameron, where they could test each other's position and knowledge.

"Now the prime minister has made sure that's not happening and has bagged the second slot so he can withstand a few jabs without reply. So all of that is a challenge.

"But I think the Leave side in general has a spring in its step and Nigel knows the subject in huge depth. He's been doing this for 20 years and that depth of knowledge will hopefully come out tonight.

"I think he's got some very important messages to pitch to the British vote, who feel somewhat overlooked by the elite and establishment."

DONG! That's the sound of the Don't-Forget-To-Register-To-Vote klaxon and if you haven't already done so you can by clicking here.

The ITV show doesn't start until 9pm - the Q&A has been bumped back later after Emmerdale, River Monsters and skyscraper documentary Don't Look Down: Rope Men - so why not press play on this video for an animated history of the EU...

It's been a great day for posters. Senior political reporter was at the unveiling Labour In's effort at the Southbank in London today. Jeremy Corbyn was flanked by deputy Labour leader Tom Watson and shadow business secretary Angela Eagle.

Speaking to IBTimes UK, Eagle said an In vote guaranteed workers' rights. "Because we have been very active in the EU over the years, we have managed to incorporate into European law in the social chapter, which Labour joined when we came into government in 1997, a flaw of workers' rights, which are guaranteed across Europe," she said.

"That's part of having a single market that includes paid holiday, maternity/paternity rights and access to equal pay. A flaw below which right-wing Conservative governments that get elected here cannot take us."

In case you missed it, here's that Ukip poster featuring Cameron and Farage:

Ukip poster
Ukip leader Nigel Farage unveils the poster

Good evening and welcome to live coverage of this evening's ITV Q&A with David Cameron and Nigel Farage. The event might be billed as a debate but the pair will be in separate studios answering questions from an audience.

It's been a busy day for the Remain and Leave campaigns so here's a round-up of what's happened so far:

  • Brexiter Dominic Raab struggled to get a word in edgeways during an interview with Piers Morgan. Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Raab told the presenter "You're talking a lot but you're not listening as an interviewer." Morgan was promptly accused of censoring the Leave campaign
  • The prime minister scrambled assorted political hacks to the rooftop at Savoy Place in London to answer "six complete untruths" spun by Vote Leave
  • The campaign shot back with Boris Johnson and Michael Gove challenging Cameron to a debate with one of them
  • Ukip leader Farage unveiled a poster in central London questioning the prime minister's patriotism
  • Archbishop of Canterbury accused Farage of racism over comments he made Cologne-style attacks on women