Poll: 90% of economists fear Brexit

Nine out of 10 of Britain’s top economists working in London’s City financial district, small business and academia believe the economy will be harmed if Britain leaves the European Union, a poll said yesterday.

The poll, which the Observer newspaper said was the biggest of its kind, drawing responses from more than 600 economists, is a boost for Prime Minister David Cameron, who is leading the campaign for Britain to stay in the 28-member bloc at a referendum on June 23.

Carried out by pollster Ipsos-MORI, the poll found that 88% of those asked said an exit from the EU and the single market would damage Britain’s growth prospects over the next five years and 82% said there would probably be a negative impact on household incomes.