Femi Oluwole reveals he nearly backed Brexit
Femi Oluwole of our Future Our Choice. Photograph: OFOC. - Credit: Archant
The anti-Brexit campaigner has revealed to a British newspaper that his support for the Remain campaign was almost turned during the 2016 European Union referendum.
Oluwole's told the Express support was almost swayed by the big red bus claiming that an extra £350 million could be spent on the NHS.
Asked about which argument had him sway in his conviction, Oluwole said: "If you go back to 2016 - the bus. I always say that bus nearly floored me.
"I studied EU law in two universities, two different languages and even me, seeing what we send - £350 million a week - to the EU had me think 'wait, hang on, am I even on the right side?'
"That argument, because it went straight to the heart of one thing the British people really care about, was quite convincing."
You may also want to watch:
Despite a rebuking from the then chair of the statistics authority, Johnson continued to make the claim that EU membership cost £350 million a week and that it could be better spent on the NHS.
After becoming prime minister he downgraded that figure to £250 million a week, but he claimed if we stayed in the EU we would pay even more.
Most Read
- 1 The bigot we should have called out on day one
- 2 The greatest failure of government in our lifetime
- 3 Nigel Farage launches new party in Scotland to promote 'positive case for the Union'
- 4 Matt Hancock praises free school meals before being reminded he voted against them
- 5 Brexit changes lead to exodus of Brits from Spain, UK nationals claim
- 6 James O'Brien schools Brexiteer who refuses to accept new EU-UK trade rules
- 7 Brexiteer rebuked after backing Nigel Farage's 'East Germany' claims
- 8 Brexiteer MP ridiculed after calling for free movement of goods between GB and NI
- 9 Tory candidate suspended by party over comments about ‘fat’ food bank user
- 10 No 10 defends Stanley Johnson receiving two coronavirus vaccines while others don't
Even the £250m figure - which works out at 30p per person per day - does not take into account the billions each year the UK receives back through schemes to fund poorer areas and farmers.
A court case even tried to get the prime minister and former foreign secretary imprisoned for telling lies about the true cost, but a judge threw the case out arguing it was not something for the courts to decide.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.