Poll shows Britons would now vote to stay

The latest polls show Britons would vote to stay in the European Union given the choice and they believe they should have one.

More Britons want to remain in the European Union than leave, according to a survey published on Sunday which also shows voters want to make the final decision themselves.

Britain is due leave the EU on March 29 but Prime Minister Theresa May is struggling to get her exit deal approved by parliament, opening up huge uncertainty over whether a deal is possible or even whether the country will leave at all.

The survey by polling firm YouGov showed that if a referendum were held immediately, 46 per cent would vote to remain, 39 per cent would vote to leave and the rest either did not know, would not vote or refused to answer.

When the undecided and those who refused to answer were removed from the sample, the split was 54-46 in favour of remaining.

That is broadly in line with other polls in recent months which show a deeply divided electorate, in which opinion has swung slightly towards remaining in the EU.

The 2016 referendum voted 52 to 48 per cent in favour of leaving.

The poll of more than 25,000 voters was commissioned by the People's Vote campaign, which is spearheading an increasingly vocal push for a second referendum on Brexit.

May has strongly opposed holding a second referendum.

But, the survey showed 41 per cent thought the final decision should about Brexit be made by a new public vote versus 36 per cent who believe it should be up to parliament.

Removing those who are undecided, the split was 53 per cent in favour of another referendum and 47 per cent against.

MPs are due to vote on whether to accept May's exit deal in the week beginning January 14.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world