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Rival camps in Brexit referendum prepare to resume campaign after killing of MP

Xinhua, June 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

Both sides of the battle to determine Britain's continued membership of the European Union will continue their campaign on Sunday, following the death of MP Jo Cox.

The remain and Brexit sides have suspended their campaign when gun shots rang out in quiet West Yorkshire, killing the 41-year-old Member of Parliament (MP).

Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will be recalled for special sittings on Monday to pay tribute to the MP.

Many people have been wondering whether the death of Cox will influence the outcome of the referendum when around 40 million people will vote on Thursday.

Stephan Shakespeare, the founder and CEO of pollsters YouGov, said in an interview he did not think Cox's death would lead to a shift in attitudes toward the EU vote, "but the nature of the campaigning will be changed and that probably will have an impact" on opinion, he added.

What is sure is that the Brexit side is points ahead in many opinion polls, some giving them a double-digit lead.

It means there is work to be done by both sides, leave to consolidate their lead and remain to win over the undecided who could swing the result either way.

Remain was given a boost Saturday when the influential Times newspaper announced it was supporting Britain staying in Europe.

Leave was given a boost also on Saturday when Britain's former defence chief Lord Guthrie told the Daily Telegraph he has switched his allegiance to the Leave campaign, after earlier backing Remain. He told the newspaper he was worried by the prospect of "a European army."

Guthrie said he had changed his mind because he was concerned at moves to create a European army, saying such a thing would be a "disaster".

"I think a European army could damage NATO. It is expensive. It's unnecessary duplication to have it. It would appeal to some Euro vanity thing," he said in his article.

"There's a feeling that those backing the European army are doing it for political reasons rather than military ones. They want to be able to boast, 'Look! We've got a European army'. That is dangerous," he added. Endit