It was also a way for the UK to enjoy many, if not all, of the EU’s benefits, while separating itself from the influence of the euro-using bloc, he said.

John Springford, of the Centre for European Reform, said that free movement would be an “obvious roadblock” for anyone in Westminster hoping to keep the UK in the EEA.

Mr Springford said: “It would be hard for elites to claim that the referendum had not essentially been a vote against free movement, when the majority of people who want to vote leave cite it as their biggest issue.”

However, the YouGov poll also showed that 57pc of Britons believe the Government should consider the Norway option in the event of a Brexit vote, even though free movement with the EU would continue. Just 24pc said that such an EFTA arrangement should not be on the table.