British Euroscepticism may not translate into Brexit vote - survey

High levels of Euroscepticism among British voters may not translate into a vote to leave the EU on June 23, new research has suggested.

Fears of the impact of Brexit on the UK economy may explain the reluctance of some voters to convert their dissatisfaction with Europe into a vote to Leave, the 2015 British Social Attitudes survey indicated.

Some 22% of those questioned said they wanted to leave the EU and 43% said the Union's powers should be reduced - a level of Euroscepticism which has been topped only once since 1992 in the regular survey.

But despite this widespread concern about the EU, a clear majority of those questioned (60%) said the UK should continue to be a member, with just 30% saying it should withdraw.

Just 24% of those questioned by pollsters NatCen Social Research felt the British economy would be better off outside the EU, compared to 40% who said it would be damaged.

NatCen senior research fellow Professor John Curtice said: "Britain is as sceptical about Europe as it has ever been, feelings that seem to be largely driven by concerns about the impact the EU is having on the nation's identity and cultural life, not least as a result of high levels of EU...