Region ‘more keen’ on Brexit than rest of UK

WEST Midlands voters are more determined than anywhere else in the country to leave the EU, a new poll has suggested.

The survey found 58 per cent of people in the region wanted to leave the EU and 42 per cent wanted to stay.

The proportion of voters backing “leave” here is higher than anywhere else.

But across the country as a whole, a small majority now want to stay in the EU.

Remaining in the EU is now backed by 51 per cent of UK voters while 49 per cent want to leave – a small minority against Brexit. The survey was carried out by BMG Research.

It comes as Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plans are in turmoil following a high court ruling that she did not have the authority to trigger Article 50 on her own.

Birmingham MP Gisela Stuart (Lab Edgbaston), who supported the leave campaign, said: “Parliament has to comply with the rules as interpreted by the courts, but this should not be abused as a way of unravelling the clearly expressed will in the referendum.

“We are a representative parliamentary democracy. But when faced with an exercise of direct democracy, as we are in a referendum, then it is the duty of MPs to implement the mandate.

“And when a clear majority voted to leave the EU, they voted to take back control of their borders, their trade, their taxes and their laws.

“Parliament is not sovereign over the people. And the people now expect us to get on with getting the best possible deal in time- frame of minimum uncertainty.”

Meanwhile, those who use the Brexit vote as an excuse to abuse, intimidate and attack others are to be challenged by a new crossparty campaign group launched this week.

West Midlands Together has been set up following a ‘spike’ in racism and hate crime following the vote to leave the European Union.

Among those signing up for the fledgling group are the Birmingham Polish Expats Association and the Birmingham Commonwealth Association who say their communities, particularly children, have noticed an increase in bullying and abuse.

Founder, Conservative Euro-MP Anthea McIntyre said: “Some people seem to have taken the Brexit vote as an excuse to treat other people badly.

“It did no such thing. The vast majority in the West Midlands are tolerant, welcoming and warm-hearted people who celebrate difference instead of exploiting it. As a majority we must come together to show this behaviour is unacceptable.”

Her colleague and co-founder Labour MEP Neena Gill added: “In the West Midlands, the two weeks before the referendum saw a spike in hate crime and after the vote they shot up by half again.

“We need an action plan, but the only way you can do that is with accurate information. We must be sure that crimes are recorded properly.”

She said Eastern European people tended to be particularly vulnerable because they did not have the long-established support networks of black and Asian communities.

The group will hold events across the region to explore how to promote a tolerant society.

Brexit campaigner Gisela Stuart MP (Labour)