Project Fear

"Project Fear" is a term that has entered common usage in British politics in the 21st century, principally in relation to two major referendum debates: the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, and then again during and after the 2016 UK referendum on EU membership (Brexit).

The phrase has been used to characterise claims of economic and socio-political dangers–primarily those that would result from a change to the existing political status quo–as scaremongering and pessimism.[1]

2014 Scottish independence referendum

The phrase was coined by Rob Shorthouse, who was the "Better Together" campaign's director of communications during the Scottish independence referendum and first appeared in Scotland's Herald newspaper in 2013. It was originally intended as a joke, “an ironic suggestion for Yes Scotland – a handy name it could use in its constant complaints about Better Together’s alleged Unionist scaremongering”. However it was subsequently adopted by Scottish nationalists after Shorthouse used it in conversation with journalists at the Scottish Conservatives party conference in June 2013 and it entered print. Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond used it to taunt unionist campaigner Alistair Darling during a televised debate.[2][3][1][4]

2016 EU membership referendum

It later reappeared during EU membership referendum campaigning ahead of the 2016 UK referendum on EU membership, being used to criticise the campaign being run by Britain Stronger in Europe, supporters of the UK remaining in the European Union. Former Mayor of London and key figurehead of the Leave campaign Boris Johnson, re-introduced the term. He put forward claims that the pro-EU campaign was guilty of scaremongering, saying that "the agents of Project Fear" were trying to "spook" the British public into voting against British withdrawal from the European Union.[5][6]

The phrase was also used by those who were in favour of Britain remaining within the European Union,[7] Labour Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said that "The EU referendum is about our future relationship with Europe, not who is the next leader of the Tory Party ... the Labour leadership will not go anywhere near the Tories' 'project fear' campaign on both sides of the debate. But instead we will continue to set out the positive case to 'Remain and Reform' the EU to create 'Another Europe' ... Another Europe is not just possible but urgently and vitally needed, which is why we must reject the offer of a Tory Brexit.".[8]

In a speech, Remain campaigner Alistair Darling said "Project Fear? In fact, it is a reality check. The kind anyone would take before making such an enormous decision in their lives."[9] David Cameron, who resigned as Prime minister after the referendum result, rejected any allegations of fear-mongering, saying that "The only project I'm interested in is Project Fact. Project Fact is about saying: 'Stay in and you know what you'll get.'"[10] Others, such as the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, have stated that the Leave side had also been scaremongering with false claims of imminent Turkish accession to the EU.[11][12]

References
  1. Jack, Iain (11 March 2016). "'Project Fear' started as a silly private joke during another referendum, but now it won't go away". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  2. Gordon, Tom (21 December 2014). "I admit it: the man who coined Project Fear label". The Herald. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  3. Ross, Jamie (24 May 2016). "The Man Who Created The Phrase "Project Fear" Says He Has No Regrets". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  4. Deacon, Michael (25 January 2016). "The EU referendum: Project Fear is already under way". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  5. "EU referendum: Final push for votes on last day of campaign". BBC. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  6. Eaton, George (15 June 2016). ""Project Fear" is back - and it's still Remain's best hope". New Statesman. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  7. Mason, Rowena (31 May 2016). "John McDonnell: sharing EU platform with Tories discredits Labour". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  8. Cowburn, Ashley (31 May 2016). "Half of Labour voters have no idea what their position is on the EU referendum". The Independent. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  9. "Darling denies EU 'Project Fear'". BBC News.
  10. Stewart, Heather; Asthana, Anushka (29 February 2016). "David Cameron says his EU campaign is Project Fact, not Project Fear". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group.
  11. "Khan and Davidson clash with Johnson on immigration in EU debate". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. 22 June 2016.
  12. Stone, Jon (29 February 2016). "The campaign to stay in the EU is 'Project Fear', says Boris Johnson". The Independent. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
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