Roundup: Fleet Street divided on referendum as EU campaigning restarts

Britain's major national newspapers were divided Sunday as campaigning resumed in the European referendum battle ahead of Thursday's vote.

Collectively known as "Fleet Street", it was the final chance for the big Sunday papers to nail their colors to the mast.

The Mail on Sunday and the Observer both said they were backing the EU Remain camp while the Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph both called on their readers to vote for Brexit.

The Sunday Times follows the tabloid Sun, Britain's biggest selling paper, in its support for Leave, while the Times, backed remain. All three are owned by Rupert Murdoch's News International.

One media analyst said what was probably the biggest surprise was the Mail on Sunday's backing for Remain, in contrast to its sister paper the Daily Mail's largely pro-Brexit stance. The Mail on Sunday warned that a vote to leave could "risk the peace and prosperity" of Britain.

In an editorial the Mail on Sunday added: "We may be lured by the notion of being marginally freer, but we will be significantly poorer. For modern Great Britain to thrive and prosper we must work with, not against, our European partners; we must keep our seat at Europe's top table and help shape its destiny; our strong, clear voice must be heard inside Europe, not be shouted from the sidelines."

The Sunday Telegraph said: "On balance we believe the Leave campaign has articulated an ambitious vision for Britain as an independent nation, once again free to make its own decisions. Remain, by contrast, has resorted to grim pessimism."

On the traditional weekend political problems on television and radio it was also the last big chance for both remain and leave sides to address mass audiences of millions. It was business as usual as the claims and counter-claims were hurtled from both sides about the consequences of the June 23 referendum.

Latest opinion polls Sunday have seen remain gain ground, partly in response to the killing on Thursday of pro-remain Labour MP Jo Cox.

Following the tragic murder of the 41-year-old politician all campaigning was put on hold, but it was business as usual Sunday as big names from Prime Minister David Cameron for Remain to Brexit backers, Justice Minister Michael Gove and former London mayor Boris Johnson, resumed their verbal clashes to win support.

Cameron, writing in the Sunday Telegraph, made reference to slain politician Cox, saying she "embodied Britain at her best -- a country that is decent and compassionate," adding what he described as an "irreversible" referendum being a "watershed moment" for Britain.

Also in the pro-leave Sunday Telegraph, Gove said: "People should vote for democracy and Britain should vote for hope. There are economic risks if we leave, economic risks if we remain. My argument is that whatever happens in the future, an independent Britain will be better able to cope with those strains."

Boris Johnson said in the Sun on Sunday that the referendum gave Britons a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity", adding people had nothing to fear by voting to leave the European Union.

A decision to leave the EU would "echo through the ages", Johnson added, saying it would enable the country to take back control of its borders.

Latest polls still show the result hangs in the balance, mainly due to the high number of those among the estimated 43 million voters, yet to decide which side to support.

A poll by Opinium for the Observer newspaper puts both sides level with 44 percent each. Two YouGov polls for the Sunday Times and the independent broadcaster ITV, puts remain slightly ahead. A telephone poll by Survation issued Sunday for the Mail on Sunday has Remain up by three points, giving them 45 percent against 42 percent for Leave. Endit