EU referendum: Pensions put at risk by Brexit vote warns PM

Workers should brace themselves for a less comfortable retirement if Britain leaves the EU, David Cameron said as the fight for the support of older voters intensified.

David Cameron fights for support of older voters. Picture: AP

A new poll of 8,650 over-50s found the referendum campaign had so far had little impact - with only 2 per cent more voters having made up their mind in the last month and those splitting evenly between Leave and Remain.

The Populus survey, commissioned by Saga, showed Brexit narrowly ahead by 45 per cent to 41 per cent across the UK, but at least half of voters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were in favour of staying in. The Prime Minister said divorce with Brussels “would put pensions at risk”. He added: “Everyone - even those who want to leave - accepts there would be an economic shock. We owe it to all the people who have worked hard and saved all their lives to find dignity in retirement,” he said. He added uncertainty over visa and residency permit issues would have an “unpredictable effect”.