EU preparing for Brexit

European Union officials are preparing for a Brexit despite Brussels bending the rules to try and keep the UK happy, according a high-level source cited by British newspaper The Telegraph.

The newspaper report quoted “one senior EU diplomat who operates at the highest level of European institutions,” as saying that officials in Brussels are gathering to discuss the high likelihood that Britain will leave the 28-nation bloc.

As a result, EU president Jean-Claude Juncker is allegedly “making daily calls” to all of the European capitals to discuss contingency plans in case of a Brexit.

The unnamed EU official said, “We wish and pray that it goes well, and that Britain stays, but we are expecting the worst. The likelihood is that things will go wrong, rather than go well. Life will have to go on afterwards.”

Britons decide whether the UK should leave or remain in the EU on June 23.

Independent polls show that the momentum behind Leave support is gathering. On Monday, several opinion polls were published that all confirmed Remain’s worst nightmare: There is a large probability of a so-called Brexit.

An ICM poll conducted both over the phone and online indicated a six-point lead for Leave (53% to 47%), while YouGov published an online poll of its own that gave Leave a commanding seven-point margin (46% to 39%).