Last days of campaign should focus on the positive

InFacts has decided to resume publication, making the fact-based case for Britain to stay in the EU. We suspended our output when Jo Cox was shot.

We have been partly guided by a desire to honour the Labour MP’s life. Jo Cox represented the best of Britain – integrity, compassion and a determination to make the world better. In her last weeks, she campaigned vigorously for Britain to stay in the EU. We don’t think she would have wanted us to down tools when there is less than a week before the crucial vote.

But we also think that the referendum campaign needs a new, more positive tone. This, too, would honour Jo Cox’s life. She campaigned for unity in a diverse society. The referendum’s hitherto dominant negative tone has sown division. Whatever the result, we will need to pull together on June 24.

For the Remain camp, a more positive tone means pointing out the benefits of being in the EU and arguing that we should lead Europe, not leave Europe. It is still legitimate to point out the risks of quitting as well as to rebut the arguments and inaccuracies of Vote Leave. But the final days of campaigning should emphasise the positive.

Some people will question why InFacts is resuming publication today, when the main campaigns are waiting until tomorrow. The answer is that news about the referendum has not stopped and we are a journalistic enterprise, as well as a campaigning group.

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The IMF has brought out its analysis of the economic risks of Brexit, The Times has called for Britain to stay in the EU and The Telegraph has published a series of pro-Leave stories, including one about why Field Marshal Lord Guthrie has switched to join the Leave camp.

We, too, will be publishing several stories today: one, Project Positivity, on the overall benefits of EU membership; and another welcoming the Daily Mail’s correction of its controversial “We’re from Europe – let us in” story about migrant stowaways. We will also be launching our latest animation, “EU migrants benefit Britain”. We hope viewers agree that this, too, honours Jo Cox’s life.

Edited by Sebastian Mallaby