Britons would now vote to stay in EU, want second referendum: Poll

Monday, 7 January 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

LONDON (Reuters): More Britons want to remain a member of the European Union than leave, according to a survey published on Sunday which also showed voters want to make the final decision themselves.

Britain is due leave the EU on 29 March, 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% would vote to remain, 39% would vote to leave, and the rest either did not know, would not vote, or refused to answer the question.

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% 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% thought the final decision should about Brexit be made by a new public vote versus 36% who believe it should be up to parliament. Removing those who are undecided, the split was 53% in favour of another referendum and 47% against.

Lawmakers are due to vote on whether to accept May’s exit deal in the week beginning 14 Jan.

PM May says if Brexit deal is rejected, UK will be in uncharted territory