No, he 100% expected a comfortable remain win. He called the non-binding referendum because it was a major manifesto promise. It was a manifesto promise solely

No, he 100% expected a comfortable remain win. He called the non-binding referendum because it was a major manifesto promise. It was a manifesto promise solely as an attempt to shut up the awkward squad -- the extreme Brexit wing of the Tory party, and put them back on the fringe for another decade or so. Then expected another hung parliament and probable coalition, not a majority. There are plenty of major Tory figures on record confirming this.