Suffolk looks set to say no to our continued membership of the European Union in Thursday’s once-in-a-generation referendum - but the latest national polls suggest Britain will vote to remain.

Our survey of about 450 eligible voters last week put Brexit four points ahead in the county, with 38.5% backing remain and a 42.5% backing a leave vote. But 14% said they were yet to decide and a further 5% won’t vote.

We carried out our research between June 13 and 16, before the fatal shooting and stabbing of Labour MP Jo Cox.

A Survation poll for the Mail on Sunday this weekend suggested there was a last minute swing nationally to remain since last Thursday’s tragedy.

While more of those we spoke to in Lowestoft, Beccles, Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Stowmarket backed a vote to leave, remain was ahead in Ipswich, Felixstowe and Framlingham.

Ipswich MP Ben Gummer said: “A lot has been overstated by the national polls, largely because the pollsters find it very difficult to talk to working people because they are at work, and working people overwhelmingly are in favour of Remain. That’s because they recognise this is about their jobs and security and their prosperity in the future.

“As we know, the East Anglian Daily Times poll is much more accurate than any national opinion poll, so that (the Remain majority in Ipswich) gives me great heart.

“What I would say to people across the town who are reading this, and I know there will be lots of older people who are thinking so hard about this for their children and grandchildren especially, is that, I know there are many things that worry them about the country at the moment and there are many things that worry them about the European Union. I’m worried about things in the country at the moment; I’m worried about things in the European Union. But we won’t make things better by leaving. It will make things worse. “Immigration will continue to be high. The majority of migrants coming here are from outside the EU. We will not be able to spend the money on our hospitals and schools that we know we need to spend by leaving the European Union.”

A wider poll with our sister paper the Eastern Daily Press which includes north Essex, Wisbech in Cambridgshire and Norfolk suggested a much stronger vote for leave.

It puts remain on 31.5%, leave on 48.5%, with 15% saying they don’t know yet and 5% telling us they will not vote.

University of East Anglia polling expert Dr Chris Hanretty said: “I think this poll shows quite clearly that the East of England is going to deliver a “leave” vote - but this is a margins game. Will the eventual “leave” vote be as firm as it’s reported here - or will the (in my view quite large percentage of) undecided voters mean that the margin is somewhat less?”

Campaigning in the European Union referendum commenced yesterday after a three day hiatus following Ms Cox’s death.

A Survation poll for The Mail on Sunday suggests “remain” has opened up a three-point lead in the wake of the killing of Ms Cox. The work - carried out on Friday and Saturday - puts remain on 45% with Leave on 42%.

The findings reverse the result of a Survation poll on Thursday which had Leave ahead on 45% and Remain on 42%.

A clutch of national polls conducted either partially or fully before campaigning was suspended continued to present a mixed picture.