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BBC Question Time: Steve Hilton Condemns Talking Down 'Brexit'

David Cameron's Leave-supporting ex-'guru' warns of 'silly scares' and 'phoney figures'
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Senior Editor, HuffPost UK

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David Cameron's former 'guru' Steve Hilton has blasted the EU referendum Remain campaign fronted by his former boss - claiming they use "silly scares and phoney figures".

The Prime Minister's former adviser, notorious for padding around Downing Street bare-footed, now resides in California but has been back in the UK promoting a book.

Hilton, who backs 'Brexit' and claimed yesterday that Cameron secretly does too, said on BBC's Question Time:

"I've only been here since Monday and I am already absolutely sick of hearing from the Remain side these silly scares, phoney figures and over-statement of what people are saying." 

His comments prompted the loudest cheer of the night from the Ipswich audience and follow Remain claiming recession and war would follow a Leave vote on June 23.

Hilton later admitted, however, quitting the European Union was a "risk" - but then so is staying in the European Union with Greece's economic woes potentially having a domino effect.

Question Time, hosted by David Dimbleby, was held in Ipswich with panelists Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader, Tory MP David Davis, Caroline Lucas the Green MP and Hilton.

Before You Go

Boris on the brexit trail
(01 of22)
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Pictured is Sam Grigg, 22, a student, who heckled Boris Johnson and threatened to thrown an egg at the politician at a Vote Leave rally in York. Boris Johnson delivers a speech as he campaigns for 'Vote Leave' on Parliament Street in York, England, during the run up to the EU referendum in Britain. (credit:I-images)
(02 of22)
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YORK, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP addresses members of the public in Parliament St, York during the Brexit Battle Bus tour of the UK on May 23, 2016 in York, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(03 of22)
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YORK, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP addresses members of the public in Parliament St, York during the Brexit Battle Bus tour of the UK on May 23, 2016 in York, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(04 of22)
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YORK, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP addresses members of the public in Parliament St, York during the Brexit Battle Bus tour of the UK on May 23, 2016 in York, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(05 of22)
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LEEDS, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP drives a sports car during a visit to Ginetta Cars Ltd during the Brexit Battle Bus tour in Yorkshire on May 23, 2016 in Leeds, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(06 of22)
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LEEDS, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP enjoys a ride in sports car as it peforms 'donuts' during visit to Ginetta Sports cars as part of the Brexit Battle Bus tour in Yorkshire on May 23, 2016 in Leeds, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(07 of22)
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LEEDS, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP chats to workers during a visit to Ginetta Cars Ltd during the Brexit Battle Bus tour in Yorkshire on May 23, 2016 in Leeds, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(08 of22)
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LEEDS, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP emerges from a sports car after it performed 'donuts' during a visit to Ginetta Sports cars as part of the Brexit Battle Bus tour in Yorkshire on May 23, 2016 in Leeds, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(09 of22)
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LEEDS, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP enjoys a ride in sports car as it peforms 'donuts' during visit to Ginetta Sports cars as part of the Brexit Battle Bus tour in Yorkshire on May 23, 2016 in Leeds, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(10 of22)
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LEEDS, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP views classic sports cars during a visit to Ginetta Cars Ltd during the Brexit Battle Bus tour in Yorkshire on May23, 2016 in Leeds, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(11 of22)
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YORK, ENGLAND - MAY 23: A woman (no name given) discusses Brexit with Boris Johnson MP in York during the Brexit Battle Bus tour in Yorkshire on May 23, 2016 in York, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(12 of22)
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LEEDS, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP emerges from a sports car after it performed 'donuts' during a visit to Ginetta Sports cars as part of the Brexit Battle Bus tour in Yorkshire on May 23, 2016 in Leeds, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(13 of22)
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YORK, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP chats to school children in the City of York during the Brexit Battle Bus tour of the UK on May 23, 2016 in York, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(14 of22)
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YORK, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP poses for the media next to Clifford's Tower in York during the Brexit Battle Bus tour in Yorkshire on May 23, 2016 in York, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(15 of22)
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YORK, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP addresses members of the public in Parliament St, York during the Brexit Battle Bus tour of the UK on May 23, 2016 in York, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(16 of22)
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YORK, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP addresses members of the public in Parliament St, York during the Brexit Battle Bus tour of the UK on May 23, 2016 in York, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(17 of22)
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Former Mayor of London Boris Johnson speaks to a woman in York, where he was traveling on the Vote Leave campaign bus ahead of the EU referendum in June. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
(18 of22)
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YORK, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP addresses members of the public in Parliament St, York during the Brexit Battle Bus tour of the UK on May 23, 2016 in York, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(19 of22)
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YORK, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP addresses members of the public in Parliament St, York during the Brexit Battle Bus tour of the UK on May 23, 2016 in York, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(20 of22)
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Former Mayor of London Boris Johnson makes a speech in York, where he was traveling on the Vote Leave campaign bus ahead of the EU referendum in June. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
(21 of22)
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YORK, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Boris Johnson MP addresses members of the public in Parliament St, York during the Brexit Battle Bus tour of the UK on May 23, 2016 in York, England. Boris Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign are touring the UK in their Brexit Battle Bus. The campaign is hoping to persuade voters to back leaving the European Union in the Referendum on the 23rd June 2016. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(22 of22)
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Former Mayor of London Boris Johnson makes a speech in York, where he was traveling on the Vote Leave campaign bus ahead of the EU referendum in June. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
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