A majority of Britons who have made up their minds would vote to leave the European Union in a forthcoming referendum, making Britain by far the most reluctant member of the 28-nation bloc, an opinion poll published yesterday showed.

As Prime Minister David Cameron pushed for a deal from other EU leaders to improve London's membership terms before a vote he could call as early as June, the ORB poll indicated that opposition to the European Union was growing in Britain.

While 21 percent of voters are still undecided, 43 percent want to leave the EU and 36 percent want to stay, the survey showed.

When the undecided are stripped out, 54 percent of voters want a British exit, or 'Brexit', up from 51 percent a year ago, and 46 percent want to stay, down from 49 percent.

The public scepticism contrasted with Cameron's latest declaration of optimism that a deal can be struck on his demands for changes in Britain's relationship with Brussels, including reducing benefit rights for EU migrants working in the UK.