Opinion polls on Tuesday showed a clear lead for the camp in favour of Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU) in the June 23 referendum.
The ‘Brexit’ side edged ahead in a key survey just over a week before Britain votes on its future within the 28-nation economic bloc next Thursday.
A YouGov survey for The Times puts “Leave” on 46%, up three points since the end of last week, and “Remain” is on 39%, down three — giving Brexit its largest lead since the start of the campaign. As many as 11% of people do not know how they will vote and 4% plan to abstain.
An ICM poll for The Guardian on Monday gave the Brexit campaign a six-point lead, with Leave on 53% and Remain on 47%, while an ORB poll for The Daily Telegraph has put “Leave” on 49% among those certain to vote on June 23, one point ahead of Remain at 48%. According to TNS online poll published on Tuesday, 47% of likely voters said they will opt to leave the EU, compared to 40% who want to stay. John Mills, chair of the Labour Leave campaign, said, “The polls are swinging our way, which is very good news but we must not be complacent.”
Leading Labour MPs within the “Remain” camp, including Keith Vaz, issued a fresh plea of their own to Indian-origin and other ethnic minority voters.
“The Leavers’ false claim is that, if we leave, there can be higher non-EU immigration while bringing down overall numbers. Let’s not be seduced by this lie from people who are anti-immigration and who have spent their lives campaigning against the interests of working people,” they wrote in the Guardian on Tuesday.