Nigel Farage: Ukip leader warns of second EU referendum if UK narrowly rejects Brexit

Nigel Farage has suggested a second EU referendum could be held if British voters narrowly reject a break away from Brussels in the nationwide poll to be held on 23 June 2016. The Ukip leader denied he was admitting defeat with the proposal, and suggested another ballot could come about because of resentment against David Cameron from within his own party.

"I think we are going to win this referendum. Why? Because there's far more passion on the leave side of the argument," Farage told BBC Breakfast.

"If we were to lose narrowly – which I don't believe we will – then what I can see is a large section, particularly in the Conservative Party, who feel the prime minister is not playing fair, that the remain side are using way more money than the leave side and there would be a resentment that would build up if that was to be the result."

The comments come after he told The Daily Mirror: "In a 52-48, referendum this would be unfinished business by a long way.

If the remain campaign win two-thirds to one-third, that ends it." But Farage stressed he was not "putting it on the agenda", as he spoke ahead a speech on the European Arrest Warrant with Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg.

In February, Cameron stressed that the EU referendum would be the "final decision" on the issue. The prime minister was reacting to a suggestion from former Conservative leader Lord Michael Howard that a 'leave' vote would trigger another ballot on the UK's membership of the EU.

"This idea that there is some third way – as some are suggesting – between in and out, that we vote out in order to have another renegotiation, another referendum, I think that is a complete fiction," the prime minister said, according to the Press Association.

"It's a very simple question on the ballot paper – you either remain in the European Union or you leave the European Union. I think people really to need understand that it's a single decision, it's a final decision, and there are only two choices."