EU referendum: A snapshot of the last six polls shows campaigns are level

Several polls have showed a surge in populairy for Brexit, but a poll average puts the two campaigns on equal footing

The Leave and Remain campaigns appear to be on level pegging (iStock)

Contradictory polls have emerged on the upcoming EU referendum with an average across six polls suggesting the Leave and Remain campaigns are on level pegging.

While The Independent’s ORB poll put the Leave campaign at 10 points ahead of the Remain campaign, an Opinium poll conducted for the Observer showing 44 per cent of Britons wish to remain in the EU, with 42 per cent voting to leave and 13 per cent unsure how to vote.

The most recent Sunday Times/YouGov poll also shows the Remain campaign on top, but only by one point, with 43 per cent of people surveyed stating they would vote against Brexit and 42 per cent in favour, with 15 per cent undecided.

However, contradictory data from the Guardian's ICM poll gave Brexit a five-point lead on the Remain campaign, with just 9 per cent undecided, in the second poll in the last week that suggested the Leave campaign could make large gains.

The two polls that put the Leave campaign ahead appeared to show a last-minute Brexit boost with less than two weeks to go before the referendum on 23 June.

They also show a dramatic decline in the popularity of the Remain campaign, which this time last year was ahead by 10 points – indeed, even the polls that put Remain ahead show a lead of just one or two points, with only the previous ORB poll showing a significant Remain lead.

Across the six most recent polls conducted between 1 and 10 June, and analysed by What UK Thinks, the campaigns are on level pegging, with 50 per cent of the electorate opting to leave the EU and the other 50 per cent opting to remain.

The EU referendum debate has so far been characterised by bias, distortion and exaggeration. So until 23 June we we’re running a series of question and answer features that explain the most important issues in a detailed, dispassionate way to help inform your decision.

What is Brexit and why are we having an EU referendum?

Will we gain or lose rights by leaving the European Union?

What will happen to immigration if there's Brexit?

Will Brexit make the UK more or less safe?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will leaving the EU save taxpayers money and mean more money for the NHS?

What will Brexit do to UK trade?

How Brexit will affect British tourism

What will Brexit mean for British tourists booking holidays in the EU?

Will Brexit help or damage the environment?

Will Brexit mean that Europeans have to leave the UK?

What will Brexit mean for British expats?