IDS Warns Of 'Consequences' For Tories Over EU

Iain Duncan Smith has accused the In campaign of using "spin, smears and threats" in order to "bully" Britons who may be considering voting to leave the European Union into fearing for their jobs and financial security.

The Work and Pensions Secretary, who is among five Cabinet ministers supporting the campaign to leave the European Union, warned those making "desperate and unsubstantiated claims" could see their integrity damaged.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Duncan Smith appeared to go further by suggesting the nature of the campaign could have an impact on harmony within the Conservative Party beyond the referendum.

"The Remain campaign's case seems almost wholly based on what they describe as the nightmare of leaving," his column said.

"In the last fortnight, we have had a series of highly questionable dossiers - threatening almost biblical consequences if we dare to consider a future outside of the European Union.

"We've seen a series of stunts, whereby big businesses, big banks and powerful politicians from other EU member states seek to bully the British people into believing their jobs and security are at risk."

Mr Duncan Smith appears to be copying the language of French President Francois Hollande, who has warned of unspecified "consequences" over UK migration which indicated a possible end to the treaty that contributes to migrants remaining in Calais rather than crossing to Dover.

It followed a warning by Germany's finance minister, Wolfgang Schauble, of economic consequences from a "Brexit" which could potentially damage stability.

Leave campaigners described the double intervention as scaremongering.

The Leader of the Commons, Chris Grayling, told Sky News it was "all part of the Euro establishment trying to keep us in the European Union by sewing seeds of doubt in the minds of our people about what might happen".

At a Ladbrokes EU debate event on Thursday night, Nigel Farage suggested the Government was in a panic about public reaction to David Cameron's deal, and had "fired all its bullets in one go".

The UKIP leader said Leave campaigns needed to start working together "under one tent".

But when asked about his own party's division, with Douglas Carswell joining the rival Vote Leave camp, Mr Farage described UKIP's only MP as "irrelevant".