A new opinion poll published yesterday showed the number of Britons wanting to leave the EU rising in the wake of the Paris terror attacks and assaults in Cologne, Germany, alleged to have been carried out by asylum seekers.
The poll put 53 percent of respondents in favor of leaving the EU with 47 percent against, with a referendum promised by the end of next year, but which could take place as early as June.
The Survation poll for the center-right, euroskeptic Mail on Sunday newspaper excludes undecided voters.
If they are included, 42 percent are in favor of leaving, 38 for remaining with 20 percent yet to make up their minds.
The survey — which was conducted online on Friday and Saturday among 1,004 respondents — had a margin of error of 2 percentage points.
Survation’s last poll published in September last year showed 49 percent of those surveyed in favor of staying, with 51 percent for leaving when undecided voters were excluded.
Thirty-four percent of respondents said that November last year’s terrorist attacks in Paris attacks made them more likely to vote to leave the EU, as opposed to 12 percent who said it would influence them to vote to stay in.
Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed said reports that women were sexually assaulted during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Cologne meant it was more likely they would vote to leave, as opposed to 8 percent who said it would encourage them to remain.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he will campaign to stay in the EU only as long as he can negotiate a series of reforms intended to restore more sovereignty powers to Britain.
Cameron has said he is reasonably confident of reaching a deal next month on the changes he is seeking in four key areas.
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