Many analysts believe a Brexit vote on June 23 would hurt the economy and send sterling tumbling, while a vote to stay would be likely to drive the currency sharply higher. “I have seen many predictions, I’ve seen polls that are all counting on the result that they will leave”, Rutte said in an interview in Amsterdam.
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Mr Taylor said: “This swing towards Leave since our last poll in late May might be due to a genuine change in opinion among voters but it could also be due to random error”. That’s probably why, so it is rumoured, the Bank of England, the International Monetary Fund and European embassies are all following the bookies odds quite closely.
An ICM poll for the Guardian newspaper found that 53% supported the Leave campaign compared with 47% support for remaining.
The pound fell 1.2 percent to 149.85 yen according to Thomson Reuters data, having fallen to around 149.50 yen on Monday. The “Leave” camp has gotten extra support over the last several days due to stepped-up focus on the immigration issue.
“Leave” had 46% support, versus 39% for “Remain” and 11% undecided, according to the latest YouGov poll for The Times. The research was carried out over the weekend and compared to a 52-48 split two weeks ago which had also put Brexit ahead by four points.
Membership of the European Union has been a controversial issue in the United Kingdom since the country joined the then European Economic Community in 1973.
A letter from leading Leave campaigners claims: “It is therefore clear that there is more than enough money to ensure that those who now get funding from the European Union – including universities, scientists, family farmers, regional funds, cultural organisations and others – will continue to do so while also ensuring that we save money that can be spent on our priorities”.
The Independent/ORB poll showed Leave at 55% and Remain at 45%, last Friday. Traders at Sporting Index now predict Remain’s vote share to be just 51 per cent, the lowest since the company’s markets opened in early March.
“There would be more economic growth through the opportunities that we would have to trade with new countries around the world”, Patel said.
With Britain due to take its biggest decision for a generation in just nine days, some 25 per cent were not aware that the ballot is on June 23.
As the polls point to Brexit, The Sun newspaper – which always likes to back the victor – has declared its support for Britain leaving the European Union.
Sterling has been dominated by worries over a potential Brexit since late past year, but other major currencies have until now appeared largely protected from anxiety over the vote.
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The Brexit issue has dominated the market since late previous year, driving a decline of more than 10 percent in sterling on a trade-weighted basis between mid-November and mid-April.
