The British public is split 50/50 on whether to leave the EU but a higher turnout among the Outers could tip the balance in favour of Brexit, according to an opinion poll for The Independent.

Given a straight choice, 50 per cent of people said Britain should leave and 50 per cent that it should remain. But when the findings were weighted to take account of people’s likelihood to vote, the result changed to 51 per cent for Leave and 49 per cent for Remain.

The online survey of 2,000 people by ORB, conducted between Wednesday and Friday (29), suggests that Barack Obama’s intervention in the debate has not been the game-changer the In camp was hoping for. Although 23 per cent said his support for the UK remaining in the EU had made it more likely they would vote to stay in, 66 per cent said it had not. And 45 per cent said they had felt more inclined to vote to leave in the past seven days, while 43 per cent were more inclined to support remaining.

Although Britain is split down the middle on the In/Out question, a majority of people (51 per cent) believe the country will vote to remain in the June referendum, while only 17 per cent think it will vote to quit the EU. One in three people (33 per cent) replied “don’t know” or said the result is too close to call.

The belief that the referendum will produce an In vote may be a mixed blessing for the In campaign. It could breed complacency and lead to some “soft” supporters of EU membership not bothering to vote.

What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Show all 5 1 /5 What's the European Parliament ever done for us? What's the European Parliament ever done for us? A cap on the amount of hours an employer can make you work The Working Time directive provides legal standards to ensure the health and safety of employees in Europe. Among the many rules are a working week of a maximum 48 hours, including overtime, a daily rest period of 11 hours in every 24, a break if a person works for six hours or more, and one day off in every seven. It also includes provisions for paid annual leave of at least four weeks every year Getty Images What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Helping the people of Britain to avoid smoking In 2014 MEPs passed the Tobacco Products Directive strengthening existing rules on the manufacture, production and presentation of tobacco products. This includes things like reduced branding, restrictions on products containing flavoured tobacco, health warnings on cigarette packets and provisions for e-cigarettes to ensure they are safe What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Helping you to make the right choices with your food Thanks to the European Parliament, UK consumers have access to more information than ever about their food and drink. This includes amount of fat, and how much of it is saturated, carbohydrates, sugars, protein and so on. It also includes portion sizes and guideline daily amount information so people can make informed choices about their diet. All facts must be clear and easy to understand What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Two year guarantees and 14-day returns policy for all products Consumers across the EU have access to a number of rights, from things which are potentially very useful, to things which used to be annoying. For example, shoppers in the UK receive a two-year guarantee on all products, and a 14-day period to change their minds and return a purchase, these things are useful www.PeopleImages.com-licence restrictions apply What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Keeping your air nice and fresh (and safe) Believe it or not, although the situation is improving, some areas of the UK have appalling air quality. A report by the Royal College of Physicians released on 23 February says 40,000 deaths are caused by outdoor air pollution in the UK every year. Air pollution is linked to a number of illnesses and conditions, from Asthma to diabetes and dementia. The report estimates the costs to British business and the health service add up to £20 billion every year

Some allies of David Cameron fear that “differential turnout” could cost him victory on 23 June. According to ORB, 65 per cent of people will definitely vote in the referendum. But that figure masks big variations. Men (69 per cent) are more likely to say they will definitely vote than women (62 per cent). Men are also more hostile towards the EU: only 45 per cent want Britain to stay compared to 55 per cent of women.

Those aged 65 and over are the age group most likely to vote, with 80 per cent saying they definitely will. They are also the most likely group to vote to leave; 60 per cent say Britain should quit the EU and only 40 per cent want to stay.

In contrast, 53 per cent of 25-34 year-olds and 54 per cent of 18-24 year-olds will definitely vote. Among the younger of these two groups, 74 per cent want Britain to remain and only 26 per cent want it to leave. Among 25-34 year-olds, 59 per cent believe Britain should stay and 41 per cent that it should quit.

Similarly, the US President’s intervention had the most impact on younger voters. Some 43 per cent of 18-24 year-olds said it had made them more likely to vote to remain, a view shared by only 17 per cent of those aged 65 and over.

Scotland (56 per cent) has the strongest level of support for EU membership, while Yorkshire and Humberside (42 per cent) and the West Midlands (44 per cent) have the lowest levels.