LONDON (AP) – Nervous “remain” supporters stepped up campaigning in Britain’s European Union referendum Tuesday after odds on a vote to leave the bloc dramatically narrowed following a string of polls showing a surge in “leave” sentiment.
The pound fell by a cent against the dollar, to $1.4181 on Monday, as bookmakers cut the odds of an exit vote in the June 23 referendum to as short as 6-5. “Remain” was still the favorite, but only just, after several phone and online polls released late Monday suggested growing support among voters for leaving the 28-nation bloc.
Senior Labour Party figures warned that leaving the EU could cause a recession and trigger big public-sector job losses – but “leave” campaigners insist the government will have more money if it doesn’t have to pay millions a week to the bloc.
The Rupert Murdoch-owned Sun tabloid urged its readers to vote for an EU exit, with a front-page editorial Tuesday under the headline “BeLeave in Britain.” It is Britain’s biggest selling newspaper, with a circulation of more than 2 million – and a history of backing the winning side in elections.
Meanwhile, a top EU official said “the world needs the European Union,” in a remark seen directed at Britain ahead of next week’s vote.