A boat forming part of a pro-Brexit "flotilla" makes its way along the River Thames in London on 15 June. John Stillwell/Press Association. All rights reserved.
Many observers have pointed to the unexpected consequences of David Cameron's decision to submit British membership of the EU to a referendum: the prime minister wanted to use this referendum to shut down once and for all the internal row within his own party over Europe. He was convinced that the reforms he had negotiated with the other member states would persuade the British people to vote in favour of staying in the EU. However, this bet has proven more perilous than he anticipated.
Less than a week before this crucial vote, the polls have been incredibly tight and the most recent indicate that the Leave campaign is leading by a significant margin. Certainly, the United Kingdom has always been a reluctant member of the EU: it hesitated before joining the European club and then secured numerous ‘opt outs’ concerning essential elements of EU policy and treaties.
