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  Polls show momentum for ‘Remain’

Polls show momentum for ‘Remain’

REUTERS | WILLIAM JAMES
Published : Jun 20, 2016, 12:14 am IST
Updated : Jun 20, 2016, 12:14 am IST

Campaigning activities ahead of the June 23 EU referendum resumed with two opinion polls showing the “Remain” camp recovering some momentum, although the overall picture remained one of an evenly spli

Campaigning activities ahead of the June 23 EU referendum resumed with two opinion polls showing the “Remain” camp recovering some momentum, although the overall picture remained one of an evenly split electorate.

With five days left until the ballot, the rival campaigns returned with a raft of interviews and articles in Sunday’s newspapers, covering the familiar immigration versus economy debate that has defined the campaign so far.

Mr Cameron, who leads the campaign to stay in the EU, urged voters to consider the economic impact that leaving the 28-member bloc would have.

“Ask yourself: have I really heard anything – anything at all – to convince me that leaving would be the best thing for the economic security of my family,” Mr Cameron said.

Michael Gove, a senior spokesperson for the rival “Leave” campaign, said leaving would actually improve Britain’s economic position.

“I can’t foretell the future but I don’t believe that the act of leaving the European Union would make our economic position worse, I think it would make it better,” he said in an interview with the a newspaper.

Both men praised Labour Party MP Jo Cox, an ardent supporter of EU membership, who was shot and stabbed in the street in her electoral district in northern England on Thursday.

“Leave” campaigner Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence party (UKIP), appeared to indicate he thought Cox’s killing had had an adverse effect on the “Out” campaign.

“It has an impact on the campaign for everybody,” he told ITV’s Peston on Sunday show when asked whether it would affect the referendum outcome.

The only opinion poll carried out since the killing showed support for “In” at 45 per cent ahead of “Out” on 42 percent — a reversal of the three-point lead that the pollster, Survation, showed for “Out” in a poll conducted on Wednesday. Two other polls published on Saturday showed the “Remain” campaign had regained its lead over “Leave”, while another showed the two camps running neck and neck.

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