Opposition to Brexit has reached a new high
Remain votes now have a 12-point lead over leave according to a new YouGov survey, a bigger margin that at any other point since the Brexit referendum in 2016.
Conducted after MPs recently voted down Theresa May’s deal earlier this week in the largest defeat in Commons history, the poll found that 56 per cent of voters now back staying in the European Union compared to 44 per cent who want to leave. This marks a 16-point swing from the time of the initial referendum when the Leave campaign held a four-point lead.
The poll, conducted for the People’s Vote campaign, also found that another 56 per cent want a fresh referendum on Brexit, a figure that has up three per cent from last month.
YouGov also found that voters support staying in the EU by an even wider margin if the alternative is leaving on the terms of May’s deal. In that scenario, 65 per cent would back Remain, while 35 per cent would still want to leave. If leaving the European Union meant a no deal Brexit then 59 per cent would prefer to stay, while 41 per cent would prefer to continue to leave.
Unsurprisingly given the pressure that opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn is currently facing, the survey found that of Labour supporters questioned, 78% want a second referendum. Despite frequent calls from party members, the public and many of his fellow MPs, Corbyn has yet to act, instead reiterating his desire to trigger a general election.
Chuka Umunna, Labour MP for Streatham and a supporter of the People’s Vote campaign, said of the results: “This snap poll shows more than ever why the government needs to change course and hand this decision on Brexit back to the people.
“The poll also underlines why the leadership of my party needs to listen to Labour’s own supporters, more than three-quarters of whom are demanding a People’s Vote. To ignore those calls now would be an historic mistake for which Labour would not be forgiven.”
YouGov surveyed 1,070 voters on January 16.
