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Brexit-supporting photographer 'livid' at use of his image in pro-EU leaflet

'I certainly would not wish for my work to be associated with that and they used it without asking,' says Mike Page

Matt Payton
Tuesday 12 April 2016 17:37 BST
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Mike Page's aerial photo of the Port of Felixstowe, in Suffolk, which features in the UK Government's leaflet about the EU referendum without his permission
Mike Page's aerial photo of the Port of Felixstowe, in Suffolk, which features in the UK Government's leaflet about the EU referendum without his permission (PA)

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A Eurosceptic photographer has expressed his outrage at one of his images being used in a pro-EU leaflet produced by the government.

Mike Page, who said he would be voting for the UK to leave the union in the June referendum, had taken the aerial photograph of the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk for the port's promotional literature.

But the 76-year-old from Strumpshaw, Norfolk said he was "livid" to find out the image was given to the Government to feature in the tax-payer funded pamphlet.

He said: "I absolutely would not have given my permission for this image to be used in this document because I fundamentally disagree with what it says.

"They are submitting that leaflet to every house in the UK and it has cost the taxpayers a lot of money.

"I certainly would not wish for my work to be associated with that and they used it without asking."

Mike Page, 76
Mike Page, 76 (PA)

Mr Page does not benefit financially from his photography but requests firms to donate money to charity in exchange for their use.

A Port of Felixstowe spokesman said there had been a mistake which had now been resolved.

He added: "It was one of a number of photographs we provided to the Government.

"On this particular image there was a misunderstanding on the copyright but this has been resolved to Mike Page's satisfaction."

Mr Page's aerial photograph of the port of Felixstowe in Suffolk
Mr Page's aerial photograph of the port of Felixstowe in Suffolk (PA)

The Government spent £9 million of taxpayers' money on the leaflet - a decision which has come under fire from Brexit campaigners.

Prime Minister David Cameron visited the port of Felixstowe last month as part of the campaign to stay in the EU.

He appeared before shipping containers arranged to spell out the word "in".

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