EU referendum: Grassroots Out to apply for designation as official EU “Leave” campaign
Grassroots Out (GO), a cross-party pro-Brexit campaign, has announced that it will be vying to become the officially designated "Leave" campaign ahead of the EU referendum.
The organisation will be competing against Vote Leave and Leave.EU for the official spot, to be decided by the Electoral Commission.
The group that is chosen by the Electoral Commission as the official side that will be entitled to broadcast campaign speeches, receive a publicly funded grant of up to £600,000 and send a leaflet to each household.
Tom Pursglove, Conservative MP, said: "It is clear that, to win this referendum, it is essential for everyone who wants to 'Leave' the European Union, to work together. We need a truly national, cross-party, cross-leave, campaign. This referendum will be won door by door, vote by vote. The GO Movement will allow us to do just that, through the spirit of genuine partnership."
The move comes after months of bitter fighting between and within Out campaigns, that came to a head earlier this month when Kate Hoey quit Vote Leave.
That's bad for Vote Leave, as being cross-party is one of the characteristics that the Electoral Commission considers when choosing a designated side.