Lord bird: i ‘bottled’ backing brexit due to project fear

The crossbench peer, best known for his work tackling homelessness, revealed he’d been made “really, really frightened” by the former chancellor’s forecast of economic doom if Britain quit

the EU. Lord Bird hit out at how he’d been forced to make a decision based on “misinformation” after Mr Osborne and ex-prime minister David Cameron teamed up to predict a huge hit to the

UK’s economy and threaten a ‘punishment budget’ in the event of a Leave vote. Speaking to Express.co.uk ahead of next week’s start of a new BBC series examining the role of the House of

Lords, Lord Bird said: “I was for leaving Europe although I bottled out at the last moment because I was frightened. “I was made frightened… really, really frightened and I voted to stay

because of my children and my grandchildren.” The life peer added: “The point is, even I wasn’t acting logically because if I’d really known the case, I’d have been able to make a decision

that wasn’t based on fear or misinformation.” Lord Bird suggested if the EU referendum was re-run today, he would change his decision and back Britain’s exit from the EU. He said: “If there

was another referendum, and I’m not recommending one, I might be brave this time. “I was certainly not brave last time.” But Lord Bird attacked “lies on both sides” of the Brexit debate as

he warned the UK’s departure from the UK could be “really clunky”. He said: “I think it’s very, very difficult to stay in Europe and it’s very difficult to leave Europe.” Having joined the

House of Lords in October 2015, the peer is shown as the “new boy” in the BBC’s ‘Meet The Lords’ series. He admitted during his inauguration as a peer he found himself “slightly lost” and

“overwhelmed”. Having become homeless at the age of five and spent several spells in prison as he was growing up, Lord Bird also revealed working in Parliament had taken some getting used

to. He joked: “I’m an ex-offender and every now and then I get a bit worried because I’m surrounded by coppers and judges. I have a kind of throwback!” _• MEET THE LORDS BEGINS AT 9PM ON

MONDAY ON BBC TWO._