Yorkshire goes to the poll in '˜once in a generation' vote

YORKSHIRE goes to the polls today as Britain makes the biggest decision about its future in more than 40 years.
Voting is taking place in the EU referendumVoting is taking place in the EU referendum
Voting is taking place in the EU referendum

Both the Remain and Leave campaigns last night made their final bids for votes as polls continued to suggest that the result, which could decide the future of the Prime Minister as well as the country, is on a knife-edge.

A high turnout is expected and Yorkshire councils organising polling have urged voters to avoid the peak periods before and after the working day to reduce the risk of queues forming.

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A frantic last day of campaigning across the country saw former London mayor Boris Johnson take to the air on a tour to carry Vote Leave’s message around the UK including a stop in Selby.

For Remain, Labour MPs Hilary Benn, Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband rallied support in Yorkshire while elsewhere David Cameron joined with figures from across the political spectrum on a cross-party Remain battlebus tour.

Speaking during his visit to Yorkshire, Mr Johnson told Vote Leave supporters the country was “on the verge of making history” and described the referendum as a “very significant moment” for Britain.

“I think it is a very important choice for our country and I think this is a once in a lifetime chance to take back control,” he said.

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Former foreign secretary David Miliband weighed into the debate, warning there would be “long term consequences” for Britain from any decision to leave while brother Ed urged voters not to make the referendum about the popularity of Mr Cameron.

The Doncaster North MP and former Labour leader told voters in Leeds: “This is more important than any individual, David Cameron, me, any other politician, because it is such a once in a generation decision.”

Leave continued to enjoy a narrow lead in polls published yesterday.

A TNS poll of more than 2,000 people found 43 per cent saying they would vote to withdraw from the EU, 41 per cent to remain and 16 per cent either undecided or not planning to vote.

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The company’s head of social and political attitudes, Luke Taylor, said: “Our latest poll suggests that Leave is in a stronger position than Remain, but it should be noted that in the Scottish independence referendum and the 1995 Quebec independence referendum there was a late swing to the status quo and it is possible that the same will happen here.”

A survey of more than 3,000 voters by Opinium Research put Leave a fraction ahead on 45 per cent with Remain on 44 per cent and nine per cent still undecided.

As campaigning came to an end, the thoughts of senior Conservative figures began to turn to how the party can re-unite.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove, leading Leave campaigner, insisted the process “will be easier than many people imagine” because of the “sense of common purpose” in the party.

Polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm with counting taking place overnight. The final national result will be announced at Manchester Town Hall.