The outlook for business investment in Britain could be affected by how campaigning around the country’s European Union membership referendum unfolds, Bank of England governor Mark Carney said.

The BoE expects to see business investment growing at a “pretty smart” rate, Carney told reporters after the central bank cut its economic growth forecasts.

Asked how the referendum likely to be held in June might affect investment, Carney said: “We will have to see. It will be a product of how the campaign unfolds.”