Britain’s ruling classes were the only group who voted overwhelmingly to stay in the European Union, a new report has found.

The report from the Centre for Social Justice and Legatum Institute found that people in the “AB” class – the middle and upper classes - were the only group which had a majority voting to Remain at the June 23 referendum.

The majority of people in all the other income groups - described as C1, C2, D and E - all voted to leave, the report said. While 57 per cent of voters in the more affluent AB group voted to remain, the proportion in the other four groups was 36 per cent.

It said: "At every level of earning there is a direct correlation between household income and your likelihood to vote for leaving the EU — 62 per cent of those with income of less than £20,000 voted to leave, but that percentage falls in steady increments until, by an income of £60,000, that percentage was just 35 per cent."

The 50-page report said that Britain’s decision to leave the EU offers a “once in a in a lifetime chance” to reshape the UK “so that it genuinely helps those who feel they have little stake in society”.