New EU poll puts Brexit backers in the lead despite Obama scaremongering

THE campaign for Britain to cut ties with Brussels has edged into a two-point lead in the EU referendum battle, a dramatic opinion poll has revealed.

Pollsters ICM found that 46 per cent of those quizzed want the UK to leave while 44 per cent want to stay.

The result suggests that Barack Obama’s call for the UK to stay in the EU failed to shift support towards the Remain camp.

Interviews for the ICM internet tracker poll were carried out during the US President’s visit to Britain last week during which he claimed Britain would lose global influence by leaving the EU and fall to the back of the queue in negotiations for a US trade deal.

Jennifer Bottomley, of ICM, said Mr Obama’s remarks may even have strengthened the resolve of Brexit supporters to vote in the referendum on June 23.

She said: “Interestingly, we do see a hardening of resolve among Leave supporters when it comes to turnout, with 80 per cent saying they are absolutely certain to vote, compared with 75 per cent who said the same in our first April poll, perhaps reflecting a sense of displeasure about Mr Obama’s comments.”

A senior US politician claimed yesterday the President had made a “big mistake” by intervening.

Paul Ryan, House of Representatives Speaker, said: “We should leave this up to the British people.”