Still, the bottom line is that the UK conducts around half of its total trade with Europe. Its £ 30 billion ($45 billion) surplus in services sold to the EU is also critically important in an economy beset by a £ 100 billion ($150 billion) current account deficit.

Should a Brexit take place, the direct consequences will probably be a fall in GDP of 7% (keep in mind that the UK economy has only recently recovered to its level in 2007) - and quite possibly the end of the Pound as a hard currency (of sorts). As to the indirect consequences should that happen, all bets are off.