Brexit Takes Opinion Poll Lead for First Time in UK

YouGov survey puts the “Leave” at 46 percent, up three points since last week, and “Remain” on 39 percent

The G7 statement follows comments from the International Monetary Fund that there were no economic positives to Britain leaving the EU. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Opinion polls on Tuesday showed a clear lead for the camp in favour of Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU) for the 23 June referendum, giving ‘Brexit’ its largest lead since the start of the campaign.

The so-called 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.

Also Read: Why Should India Care About ‘Brexit’?

A YouGov survey for The Times puts “Leave” on 46 percent, up three points since the end of last week, and “Remain” is on 39 percent, down three, giving Brexit its largest lead since the start of the campaign.

11 percent of people do not know how they will vote and 4 percent plan to abstain. Once the “don’t knows” and “will not votes” are excluded, 54 percent would vote to leave and 46 percent would vote to remain, the biggest lead for the Brexiteers so far.

An ICM poll for The Guardian on Monday gave the Brexit campaign a six-point lead, with “Leave” on 53 percent and “Remain” on 47 percent, while an ORB poll for The Daily Telegraph has put “Leave” on 49 percent among those certain to vote on 23 June, one point ahead of “Remain” at 48 percent.

Leading Labour MPs within the “Remain” camp, including Keith Vaz and Virendra Sharma, 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.

Keith Vaz and Virendra Sharma, Labour MPs to <i>The Guardian</i>.

In a direct attack on Conservative party’s most prominent Indian-origin voice in favour of Brexit, Priti Patel, they add, “Where there are shortages in certain sectors, like our curry houses, it’s government rules that are the root of the problem.”

They further added that “Leave” campaigner, Priti Patel, who is the Employment Minister, has responsibility in this area, so she is in fact the source of the problem while claiming to be the solution.

The British Election Survey (BES) released last month had found that 51.7 percent of Indian-origin voters are against Brexit, compared to 27.74 percent in favour of leaving the economic bloc.

However, there is a significant percentage (16.85 percent) of those who fell into the “don’t know” category, who are likely to hold the key in the referendum and this is the group both camps are now focusing on.