IMF chief issues impassioned plea for Britain to stay in EU

Christine Lagarde's warnings of the impacts of Brexit are echoed by the World Bank head and the Bank of England

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund has made an impassioned plea for Britain to stay in the EU, saying Brexit would spell the painful breakdown of a "long marriage" with grave risks for the global economy.

Christine Lagarde said uncertainty created by the 23 June referendum was already dragging down the UK economy, and a decision to leave the bloc would make matters worse.