Brexit: What it says in the British papers

Polling in the Brexit referendum gets underway on Thursday morning and at this stage outcome appears too close to call. The British press remains divided, with most newspapers either explicitly or tacitily supporting one side of the other. Here’s what the media is saying as the campaign enters its final hours:

The Times trumpets a letter it received from 1,285 business leaders calling for a vote to remain in the EU. Brexit would damage the British economy, they say, in remarks echoing an appeal from David Cameron to older voters on Wednesday not to jeopardise their grandchildren's futures. In it leader comment, the newspaper advises that it would be wise to take the advice of most business leaders and vote to remain.

The Financial Times, meanwhile, said Mr Cameron is frustrated that more business leaders haven't come out in favour of remaining in the EU. He told the paper that the referendum is "very close" but that Britain could be in for a "remain dividend" investment surge if the country sticks with the EU.

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The Guardian also spoke to the prime minister at Number 10 and he told them that Leave campaigners are stoking intolerance and division with extreme warnings on immigration. He said Britain will be seen as a more "narrow, insular and inward-looking" country if it votes to leave the EU.

The Daily Telegraph focuses on comments made by justice secretary and leave campaigner Michael Gove where he compared the interventions of pro-remain economists with Nazi scientists who dismissed Albert Einstein in the 1930s. He said: "They got 100 German scientists in the pay of the Government to say that he was wrong and Einstein said, 'Look, if I was wrong, one would have been enough'."

The BBC on Wednesday morning lead with a report on their big debate that took place in front of an audience of 6,000 at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday night. Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson repeatedly clashed with Boris Johnson in front and accused his leave side of “lying” while Mr Johnson said remain “keep talking down our country”.

The Sun urged readers not to trust Mr Cameron to curb immigration and reform the EU. "Today, we have our own message: Don't let him or his Remain ­campaign fool you," the paper said. "He has no answer to the pressure Britain's vast annual influx places on working people's wages, our schools, hospitals or housing costs."

The strongly pro-leave paper the Daily Express said the prime minister appeared to be in an irritable mood during an interview on BBC Radio 4 with John Humphrys on Wednesday morning, repeatedly telling the presenter to stop interrupting him. "You'll interrupt yourself in a moment if you don't watch it," he said.

While the Daily Mail offered undecided readers an "essential guide" giving 20 reasons they should vote to leave. Among the reasons are "controlling asylum seekers" and avoiding an influx of Turkish migrants was Turkey to join the EU.