Skip to main content

Most people blame Tories for botched Brexit, poll finds

CHAOS in the Conservative ranks over Brexit means most people already blame Theresa May’s government for a bad deal before an agreement on Britain’s departure has even been struck, new figures show.

A poll of over 10,000 people by the anti-Brexit People’s Vote campaign, which argues that voters in 2016 did not understand the consequences of leaving the EU and should be made to vote again after Ms May has thrashed out an agreement on terms with Brussels, found that 62 per cent said a bad deal would be “mainly the fault of the government.”

Even Tory voters were more likely to blame the government than the EU for a bad deal by a 48 to 43 per cent margin.

The poll comes as Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington was forced to defend Chancellor Philip Hammond, who drew ire from pro-Brexit Tories for writing to former Cabinet colleague Nicky Morgan that a “no-deal” Brexit could raise borrowing and harm GDP.

Conservative MPs including Jacob Rees-Mogg accused the Chancellor of restarting “project fear” with the letter.

Blairite Labour backbencher Chuka Umunna claimed a failure to reach agreement with Brussels would raise questions over Britain’s ability to “keep planes in the air, food in the shops and medicines available for the sick.”

But Alex Gordon, convener of Lexit the Left Leave Campaign during 2016’s referendum, said the findings showed hostility to the government rather than the referendum result.

“The only People’s Vote that will deliver what British voters want is a general election to get rid of this failed Tory government,” he stressed.

Pollster Peter Kellner said the issues ran deeper than membership of the EU itself.

“If the referendum tapped into a widespread public unease about Britain’s political establishment, the current negotiations have done nothing to dispel that unease,” he observed.

“The poll contains grim news for the Prime Minister — fewer than half who voted Tory last year trust the government.

“Nor has Parliament’s reputation improved, with 26 per cent of the public trusting it and 61 per cent distrusting it.

“If there is a crisis at Westminster, it will not just be about the UK’s future relationship with the EU. It will also be about the perceived ability of our politicians to lead our country effectively.”

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today