Brexit support rises to highest level, YouGov poll shows

Chances of the UK leaving the European Union have risen to their highest ever level, according to a recent YouGov poll.

A total of 42% of people surveyed said they would vote for a British exit, or Brexit, in a referendum that could be held as soon as June, extending a four-point gap over the 38% who said they would vote to remain within the EU, Reuters reported.

Most other polls however still show a majority in favour of staying within the economic bloc.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister David Cameron claimed progress in negotiations with European Council president Donald Tusk over concessions the government aims to win in order to stay part of the EU.

A fresh poll from independent thinktank Opensource found 65% support for staying in the EU if Cameron can secure all his concessions.

However, Reuters cited a source that said agreement had been reached on just one of the four areas Cameron is seeking reform.

The European Commission has prepared a proposal allowing Britain to apply for an immediate "welfare brake" to deny benefit payments to working migrants, according to various reports.

The Financial Times said a major obstacle was Cameron’s demand that Britain should be able to “escalate” some issues when non-eurozone countries need to be protected from being out-voted by the eurozone countries on key financial issues.