Brexit figurehead Farage says UK will likely stay in EU

Anti-EU figurehead Nigel Farage said Thursday it appeared the “Remain” camp would narrowly scrape victory in Britain’s referendum on whether to leave or stay in the European Union.

It “looks like ‘Remain’ will edge it”, the United Kingdom Independence Party leader told Sky News television.

UKIP, whose central purpose is getting Britain out of the EU, would go from strength to strength on the back of the closely-fought referendum campaign, Farage insisted.

“It’s been an extraordinary referendum campaign, turnout looks to be exceptionally high and (it) looks like Remain will edge it,” he said.

“UKIP and I are going nowhere and the party will only continue to grow stronger in the future.”

Farage spoke to Sky News by telephone, a UKIP spokesman told AFP.

Earlier in the day, Farage had said the “Leave” campaign had a “very strong chance” of pulling off a victory.

“I do think that the people who have decided to vote ‘Leave’ have a real conviction and passion,” he told reporters as he went to cast his ballot in Biggin Hill, south of London.