Although the claims have ranged from threat of world war to the continuation of Hitler’s dream, the serious arguments have significantly raised public awareness. Our columnist has weighed them all, but the question of immigration and border control has finally swayed her

we British don’t often do referendums, worse luck, but when we do, it’s worth the wait. The referendum on 23 June is turning into a high-level form of ping-pong, with both sides making rather exciting claims about the catastrophe that awaits the country/continent/  world order if the other side wins. So far, the Plague of Frogs argument is fairly evenly matched, with the Prime Minister warning of war and genocide if Britain leaves the European Union (EU), while Boris Johnson, former London mayor, declares, as an aside, that the EU – or rather, Germany – is seeking to carry on where Napoleon and Hitler left off, and establish a European unitary order. Or Reich, if you prefer.

The Remain side without question has more heavy hitters, from the US President to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Governor of the Bank of England. Yet the Brexiteers make up in gusto what they lack in high-level backers – from the former Respect MP, George Galloway, on the fringes, to the interestingly measured Labour MP, Gisela Stuart, herself German, who heads the Vote Leave group.