- Title: British youth mock pro-EU campaign video
- Date: 25th May 2016
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) YOUNG VOTER, AMINA RAVAT, SAYING: "It is very patronising. In a sense it is kind of saying that young people are not interested in the politics. They are just interested in what is in it for them." 'STRONGER IN' CHIEF CAMPAIGN SPOKESPERSON, JAMES MCGRORY, WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) 'STRONGER IN' CHIEF CAMPAIGN SPOKESPERSON, JAMES MCGRORY, SAYING: "Of course, there will be criticism. We're trying something different. There will be some people who don't like it. But what I would say is this; I think it is worth taking that chance that you will come in for some criticism because, regardless of whether you want to remain or leave the European Union. I think we can all agree that young people should have a say and I think we can all agree that we encourage young people to get out there and vote."
- Embargoed: 9th June 2016 16:07
- Keywords: Britain EU referendum remain video Brexit
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM/ UNKNOWN LOCATION
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM/ UNKNOWN LOCATION
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: European Union,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0084JB4Y13
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:A campaign video urging young Britons to "make sure you're #VOTIN" to stay in the European Union in a June 23 referendum backfired on Wednesday (May 25), with some young people denouncing it as patronising.
Produced by the official "In" campaign, the new video aims to motivate young people to go to the ballot box on referendum day. Surveys show they are more likely to be in favour of remaining in the EU, but less likely to vote than people in other age groups.
To a soundtrack of thumping dance music, the video shows images of young people engaging in a range of activities from texting and withdrawing cash to clubbing, spraying graffiti and parachuting.
Over the fast-moving images, a series of words spelled without the final 'G' appear in capital letters: WORKIN, LEARNIN, EARNIN, SHOPPIN, RAVIN, CHATTIN, ROAMIN, MAKIN, MEETIN, SHARIN, GOIN, LIVIN. Each time, the letters IN appear with a slight delay.
A message then flashes up: "Life's better in the EU, but it's at risk. 23rd June, make sure you're #VOTIN".
The video plays on the word "IN", but the decision to drop the letter G from the end of all the verbs was also widely seen as an attempt to mimic the way some young people talk.
"I think it is quite embarrassing that they are missing the G in half of the words. I'm 21, I know what a G is," said London student Grace McGovern, who said she was leaning towards voting "Out" on June 23.
"They meant well, but it is not the way to go about it. It is very patronising. I think that is just going to put people off," said 22-year-old waiter Joseph, who didn't wish to give his surname.
The official Vote Leave campaign tweeted an image lifted from the campaign, with the slogan "PATRONISIN CRINGIN EMBARRASSIN #VOTIN".
The anti-EU camp has come in for its share of ridicule during the campaign, for example, over two attempts to set up music festivals in support of the Brexit cause that unravelled when popular acts pulled out over the political content.
The chief spokesman for the official "Britain Stronger In Europe" campaign, James McGrory, said some criticism of the new video was to be expected.
"We're trying something different. There will be some people who don't like it," he told Reuters Television, adding: "I think we can all agree that we should encourage young people to get out there and vote," he said.
The stakes are high for the "In" camp, with some evidence that young people are not as engaged in the referendum debate as it would like and need to ensure victory.
A survey of 2,000 students published last week found that 63 percent of them did not know the exact date of the referendum, while 54 percent were not aware it was being held in June. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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