(The prospect of Brexit has become “almost synonymous with recession”, comedian Eddie Izzard claimed as he campaigned for a vote to stay in the EU.
Izzard, who is on tour with his Stand Up For Europe event, said Leave campaigners have already lost the economic argument, adding that those who care about “humanity” and “their finances” should support Remain.
Speaking in Edinburgh, Izzard also encouraged young people to register to vote by the June 7 deadline to ensure their voice is heard in the referendum on June 23.
The comedian outlined the “tremendous advantages” of being in Europe, saying: “I’m trying to live and breathe a positive campaign.”
He said: “From young people’s point of view, just immediately low-cost fights to Europe – they exist because the EU pushes the prices down, roaming charges which go down to zero extra roaming charges from next year – that’s a fantastic thing, your health care all across Europe, your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – those will disappear.
“If we put up the borders and block everything off, then you’re going to have to go into visas, you’ll have to get work permits if you want to work somewhere in Europe.”
He added: “Brexit is almost synonymous with recession. They’ve even stopped arguing about the economy, they’ve lost that argument.
“All the experts from the governor of the Bank of England, all the way up to (US President) Barack Obama, the World Trade Organisation – even today the OECD, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, they said it (Brexit) is going to be bad.”
Izzard, who campaigned for a No vote in Scotland ahead of the 2014 independence referendum, also confirmed his intention to stand for election in 2020.
“A member of Parliament is where I wish to head if the people will have me, if I get voted in that would be great,” he said.