CCTV9英语新闻：英国退欧公投开始

CCTV9英语新闻：英国退欧公投开始

现在是英国时间上午6点，长期倍受关注的英国退欧全民公投刚刚开始。

It's 6 AM in the United Kingdom, where the long-talked about Brexit referendum has just started. Over 46 million registered voters are expected to vote on whether the country should stay in or leave the European Union.

Earlier polls show the public are evenly split. A ComRes opinion survey showed the "Remain" campaign is leading by 48 percent to 42 percent over "Leave", with the remainder still undecided.

Meanwhile another poll by YouGov gave "In" a lead of just two points. Voting will continue until 21 PM GMT today, and the count begins as soon as the last votes are cast. The result is expected to be released on Friday morning.

The UK is going to make its most important political decision in decades. Whatever the result, it will have repercussions.

Prime Minister Cameron says he will notify the European Union "immediately" if Britain votes to leave. And if that happens he will be under huge pressure from his divided Conservative party to resign.

Even if the country votes in, money markets will be volatile. The Bank of England and the European central Bank have contingency plans to deal with a possible "Brexit shock" to the pound and the euro.