Family holidays to Europe 'to cost £230 more' after Brexit, PM claims

Leaving the EU could put £230 on the cost of a family holiday and £4 on the price of a phone call home, David Cameron has claimed, as he set out what he termed the "retail" case for continued membership.

But the PM's latest salvo in the increasingly-bitter referendum battle is likely to intensify allegations of scaremongering from the Leave camp, which strongly disputes the Whitehall calculations over the economic cost of Brexit as negative propaganda.

Speaking at the Luton HQ of low-cost airline easyJet, Mr Cameron drew on analysis by the Treasury suggesting a 12% slump in the value of the pound against the euro if the UK votes to quit the EU in the June 23 referendum.

David Cameron said foreign travel will be more costly if the UK votes for Brexit


According to Government calculations, by 2018 the weaker pound will mean four people on a nine-night break to Spain could pay £225 more, with eight nights in France up £210, a fortnight in the US £620 and 10 nights in Portugal £325,

Mr Cameron told airline workers: "If we were to leave, and the pound were to fall - which is what most people expect and what the Treasury forecast - that would put up the cost of a typical holiday for a family of four to a European destination by £230.

"It could put up the cost of air travel, because if you are outside the single market - which is what those who want us to leave think - then you would face all sorts of bureaucracy and restrictions that you don't face today.

"Another very retail thing that is happening in Europe is, we are abolishing roaming charges in the European Union. It's one of the most annoying things - you're on holiday, you use your mobile phone, you get an enormous bill. Getting rid of roaming charges could mean on a 10-minute call back to the UK, you're saving almost £4.

"I think there are some very strong retail arguments about the cost of a holiday, the cost of food, the cost of using your phone, for staying in the European Union."

Despite stressing the consumer benefits of EU membership, Mr Cameron insisted he was not offering a "head against heart" trade-off, in which the economic case for Remain is pitched against the patriotic appeal of Leave.

Staying in the EU was the "big, bold, patriotic" thing to do, because Britain's strength and standing in the world were enhanced by its membership of international bodies, he said.

"I think the big, bold, patriotic case is to stay in a reformed European Union to fight for the sort of world that we want, rather than to stand back and be on the outside," said Mr Cameron.

Mr Cameron's former policy guru Steve Hilton - who backs Brexit - said the holiday price warning was another example of the sort of "pathetic, patronising EU scares" being deployed by both sides.

"You've got to be kidding. It's almost like a parody," he told the Press Association.

"I just wish we could have a serious debate about the long-term future of how we want to be governed rather than this kind of nonsense. It just does not do anyone any favours. It just puts people off the whole political class."

Mr Cameron's latest offensive came amid a furious response from Eurosceptic Tories to Monday's Treasury analysis which warned that Brexit would plunge the UK into a year-long recession and cost up to 820,000 jobs.

Reports that Tory MPs - one of whom, Marcus Fysh, called the Treasury dossier "specious bollocks" - were planning a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister following the referendum vote.

With less than a month to go until polling day however, the Remain campaign was boosted by a poll showing older voters, men and Conservative backers all moving their support away from Brexit.

The Daily Telegraph said its latest survey of 800 people by ORB International gave the pro-EU side a 13-point lead - by 55% to 42% - among those certain to vote, thanks in part to dramatic shifts among the three key groups.

Over-65s and male voters - seen as the most keen on quitting the EU - backed Remain by 52% to 44% and 55% to 42%, the newspaper said, with Conservatives, who favoured Brexit by 60% to 34% in March, now 57% to 40% for Remain.

Carolyn McCall, chief executive of easyJet, backed the PM over rising prices and the threat to cheap flights, telling the BBC Radio 4 Today programme it was "highly likely" that fares would rise if the UK left the EU.

"No-one quite knows what shape this would take if this indeed happened. It would depend what was able to be negotiated afterwards," said Ms McCall.

"What we can say with certainty is that it would be more complicated.

"I think we can say that it is highly likely that fares would go up because it would be more complicated for airlines to fly freely across Europe."

On roaming charges - which have been cut and are set to be abolished from June 2017 - Number 10 was backed by BT Group chief executive Gavin Patterson and Vittorio Colao, chief executive of the Vodafone Group.

Mr Patterson said: "Voters need to think very carefully before turning their backs on an institution that helps to ensure benefits like that are delivered."

Both said remaining in the EU would be better for their businesses and for UK jobs.

Mr Colao added: "Britain will benefit from being part of a borderless European Single Digital Market as it will create new opportunities for economic growth.

"Consequently, we believe it is better to be a shaper and leader from within, rather than being just a commercial neighbour."

Vote Leave chief executive Matthew Elliott said: " It's remarkable to see the Prime Minister talking down our country and our economy day after day.

"Yesterday Nicola Sturgeon pleaded with the Government to stop the negative campaigning, and urged them to stop making exaggerated claims that insult the public's intelligence. Clearly they're not listening.

"These threats lack credibility - the pound has actually been stable in recent months as the possibility of Brexit has increased. The truth is that leaving the EU will liberate the UK and allow us to do trade deals with countries like India and China - helping our economy to grow."

Lloyd Dorfman, founder and president of currency exchange business Travelex, said: " I am concerned about a sharp fall in the pound if we leave the EU. It would have a negative impact and increase the cost of holidays overseas.

"People in Britain made 65 million visits overseas last year, and 76% of these were to other EU countries. Tourism and travel are part of the umbilical cord between the UK and continental Europe. Leaving would be the biggest own goal in our post-war history."


Family holidays to europe 'to cost £230 more' after brexit, pm claims

Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.