The Sun newspaper is urging its readers to vote 'Leave' in the Brexit referendum.
Rupert Murdoch's tabloid has argued that Britain must free itself "from dictatorial Brussels".
In an editorial, it writes:
"Throughout our 43-year membership of the European Union it has proved increasingly greedy, wasteful, bullying and breathtakingly incompetent in a crisis.
"Next Thursday, at the ballot box, we can correct this huge and historic mistake.
"It is our last chance. Because, be in no doubt, our future looks far bleaker if we stay in."
Be-leave in Britain: The Sun backs Brexit. https://t.co/tcc9mh7Hob pic.twitter.com/vNr6czdum1
— The Sun (@TheSun) June 14, 2016
The Sun is the UK's best-selling newspaper, with a circulation of 1.7 million.
It has previously taken credit for influencing a number of major British votes, most infamously the Conservative party's shock victory in the 1992 British general election, when it ran with the headline: "It's the Sun wot won it."
The influential call comes as the 'Leave' campaign opens up a 7-point leave over 'Remain'.
According to a YouGov poll for The Times, 46% are backing a vote to Leave, with 39% of Brits in favour of staying in the EU. Undecided voters stand at 11% as the June 23rd referendum looms large.
Reuters is reporting that a number of other polls put the 'Leave' campaign ahead on Monday, while betting odds on Brexit have narrowed.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, media commentator Roy Greenslade said the stance was "no surprise at all" but did not believe The Sun's editorial would influence voters.
He said:
"I think when you tell people what to do, it doesn't work."
Greenslade noted that the "40 years" of anti-European stories The Sun has run will have had the bigger impact.
The latest declaration, instead, would have a "symbolic importance":
"It will certainly make David Cameron and the 'Remain' campaigners even more jittery about the outcome."
