EU 'in' campaign chief Lord Rose says his side will win by 'a substantial margin'

Polls so far show mixed fortunes for both campaigns, however

Lord Rose said 'common sense' would prevail in the referendum (PA)

The head of the campaign to keep Britain in the European Union has predicted his side will win “by a substantial margin”.

Lord Rose, a former chair of Marks & Spencer, told a meeting with journalist in Parliament that staying in the EU was “common sense” and that it would “prevail”.

“A win is a win. If we get to 50.001% it is a win. I want to win, but we will win by a substantial margin,” he said.

The businessman’s prediction came with the release of a new poll by YouGov showing a substantial lead for leaving the EU, however.

That poll said 45 per cent would vote to leave but only 36 per cent would stay in.

Another poll published by ICM however showed a three-point lead for the “remain” campaign.

Matthew Elliott, the chief executive of Vote Leave, one of the campaigns to leave the bloc, said: “The cosy establishment club doesn't want change because it does well out of the status quo.

“But the people want change and to take back control. It's a David v Goliath struggle – but we all know who ended up winning that one.”

David Cameron has been attempting to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s membership with the European Union.

A draft package, presented earlier this week, was panned by eurosceptics in the Conservative party as “watered down”, “thin gruel” and a betrayal of principles.

Mr Cameron however says the deal, which hands new vetos to national parliaments and temporarily restricts in-work benefits for EU migrants, is the “strongest package ever”.

Despite this, polling has shown a widespread rejection of the deal by the public so far. YouGov found that just 22 per cent thought it was “a good deal” with 46 per cent saying it was a “bad deal”.

As well as domestic rejection, Mr Cameron also faces an uphill battle even getting fellow EU leaders to agree to the plan.

French President Francois Hollande yesterday said the deal was a good “compromise” but not up for further negotiation. However, other countries including Poland have said aspects of the package affecting migrant workers would have to face “further discussion”.

The draft proposals were published by European Council president Donald Tusk after negotiations between British and Brussels officials.