'Bit of silliness' on referendum date, says Stephen Crabb

Objections by all four party leaders in the assembly to an EU referendum in June are a "bit of silliness", Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb has said.

The leaders, including Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies, warned a vote the month after May's assembly election could confuse voters.

But Mr Crabb said people were "well able" to handle debates on different issues at "roughly the same time".

He also accused the party leaders of "moving the goalposts" on the matter.

There has been speculation David Cameron intends holding the referendum on 23 June, depending on the outcome of an EU summit in February.

Mr Crabb said UK ministers had "listened to the arguments" and "made a commitment" not to have the referendum on 5 May, when elections in London, Scotland and Northern Ireland also take place.

But he said the assembly party leaders had now "moved the goalposts" on the timing.

"I think there's a bit of silliness going on here," he said.

"I think people in Wales are well able to handle debates about different issues in roughly the same time period, and I think it will be a good debate when it comes."

'Firmer arguments'

Mr Crabb was speaking to BBC Wales after a speech in Cardiff in which he said it would be in Wales' interests to stay in the European Union on renegotiated terms, despite him not being "a member of the EU fan club".

The Welsh secretary is backing David Cameron's push for change on issues such as benefit rules.

"It is assumed that if you are a politician in Wales, you must be a bought and paid for member of the EU fan club. I am not," he said.

"And I reject the notion that it should somehow be an article of faith. The case for Wales remaining within the EU has to be won on firmer arguments."

The preferences of major employers such as Airbus on EU membership have been hotly disputed

He said it was "in the DNA of Conservatives to be suspicious of big and intrusive government", saying this explained the strain of Euroscepticism within the party.

But Mr Crabb claimed the argument for staying in the EU would be won from the centre-ground - "a place of both principle and reasonableness".

"If the prime minister's renegotiation is successful and he secures the reforms he has spelt out, then I believe it will be in the UK's best interests to remain in a reformed European Union," he said.

'Scare stories'

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the campaign group Vote Leave, said Mr Crabb was "right to say we should ignore the scare stories peddled by those who want us to stay in the EU at any cost".

"Large employers - from Airbus to Toyota - have made clear they want to invest and create jobs in Wales regardless of our EU membership," he said.

"Firms are attracted by our dynamic workforce, strong economy and commitment to free trade - all of which we will be stronger after we Vote Leave."