Special report: Oxford voters remain split on Britain's European Union membership

Half of those quizzed in an Oxford Mail survey said they would vote to stay in the political and economic bloc, but a quarter wanted to leave and a further 26 per cent were yet to make their minds up.

They were also unconvinced by warnings from Prime Minister David Cameron that so-called ‘Brexit’ would put the county’s “great success story” at risk, with less than half believing it would affect jobs in Oxfordshire.

It comes as June 23’s historic referendum on Britain’s EU membership is barely eight weeks away, with residents having until June 7 to register to vote.

• David Cameron warned Brexit could put Oxfordshire's "great success story" at risk.

But the survey found many respondents did not feel informed enough, with the vast majority failing to name any of their 10 Members of European Parliament or the EU’s lawmaking bodies – the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council.

Vote Leave campaigners said it showed the institutions were “remote”, with Robert Oxley, its head of media, adding: “Brussels is a backwards institution that is too big, too bossy and is utterly incapable of dealing with the challenges of the 21st century.”

Responding to the survey findings, MEPs for the South East admitted it left “a lot to be desired”. But Ngaire Woods, dean of Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government, said it was vital voters had all the facts. She said the referendum would be “a historic moment – it could be the biggest political decision the British public has to face in a generation”.

• Ngaire Woods, dean of the Blavatnik School of Government. The school will hold a public debate about the EU. Picture: John Cairns

The Walton Street-based Blavatnik school will hold a public debate about the EU, featuring top economist Vicky Pryce, Daily Telegraph columnist Roger Bootle, former HSBC chairman Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, ex-Shadow Cabinet member Emma Reynolds MP, CapX editor Iain Martin and David Campbell Bannerman, the Tory MEP.

Urging city residents to attend the event on May 3, Prof Woods added: “It is important people know the facts so they can make an informed decision come June 23.

“The debate is an excellent opportunity to understand more about the political and economic arguments of both sides.”

Those who wish to attend must register in advance. 

• David Cameron said he made “no apologies” for sending an information leaflet to every household.

The Oxford Mail asked 100 people in the city centre six questions about the EU. More than 70 per cent of respondents said they planned to vote in the referendum on June 23.

Half of those who took part did not feel informed enough to make a decision and 80 per cent did not know any of the EU’s lawmaking bodies.

Of those who knew some of the MEPs for the South East, six could name Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, with three others variously naming Liberal Democrat Catherine Bearder, Labour’s Anneliese Dodds and Keith Taylor of the Greens.

Ms Dodds, who lives in the city and is married to Ed Turner, Oxford City Council’s deputy leader, said: “I’m disappointed but not surprised that few people know who their MEPs are.

“I live in Rose Hill and try to get around as much as possible to speak to my constituents, but with a population the size of Austria’s it is a challenge.”

Richard Ashworth, one of the Conservative MEPs people couldn’t name, said: “The EU is a significant factor in our lives and in a modern society the very low level of knowledge exhibited by the people leaves a lot to be desired.”

He added: “The uptake of commentary at regional newspapers is extremely low and, sadly, the majority of schools offer no civic education at all.”

John Cotton, a campaigner for Vote Leave and leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said there was a lack of interest generally in politics but most people found the EU and its institutions “remote”.

Speaking in a personal capacity, he added: “Government should be as close to the people as possible and I find the EU to be incredibly distant.

If we were to leave, I think there would also be an explosion of economic growth – claims that we could not strike new trade deals are rubbish.”

• John Cotton, a campaigner for Vote Leave and leader of South Oxfordshire District Council.

Witney MP Mr Cameron has thrown the full weight of the government behind the case for staying in the EU, saying he made “no apologies” for sending an information leaflet to every household.

Earlier this month, the Treasury also published an analysis which claimed Brexit would leave British households £4,300 worse off per year.

Both Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University support Britain remaining in the EU, with bosses of BMW – another major employer in the city – also warning employees that leaving could hurt exports and jobs.

• Barack Obama Barack Obama warned over the weekend that Britain would be at the “back of the queue” for a trade deal with the United States if it left the EU. In a dramatic intervention in the debate, the US president said his country was entitled to speak out because it had fought with Britain in two world wars to bring peace to Europe. He added: "Part of being friends is being honest."