‘Canaries in the coalmine of populism’: an oral history of the Brexit campaign, told by those with a front row seat (opens original article in a new tab)

The 2016 UK EU referendum campaign was marked by internal Conservative Party divisions, strategic decisions by key figures like Boris Johnson, and controversial messaging from the Leave campaign.

• David Cameron announced the 2016 EU referendum date on 23 June 2016.
• Boris Johnson initially hesitated but eventually supported the Leave campaign, significantly impacting the referendum's trajectory.
• The Leave campaign's use of the £350m NHS funding slogan and false claims about Turkey joining the EU were controversial.