Most Remainers now backing a hard Brexit
Astonishing poll finds they want border control, freedom from EU judges and a small divorce bill – in blow to Cable and Blair
MOST Remain voters now back a Brexit that gives Britain a clean break from the EU and control back of our borders, a major study has found.
Many of those who voted to stay in the European Union also now believe the country should pay only a small ‘divorce bill’ and stop EU judges ruling over the UK.
The survey results are a major boost for Theresa May’s Brexit strategy – and suggest diehard Remainers such as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable and former prime minister Tony Blair have overestimated support for backtracking on Brexit.
The poll of 3,293 people by the London School of Economics (LSE) and Oxford University found that when questioned in detail about their views, many people favoured the elements of a so- called ‘hard Brexit’.
Of those who voted Remain, when given the choice of the two options, 53 per cent preferred a ‘ hard’ to a ‘soft’ Brexit, suggesting they do not want continued single market membership, ongoing payments to Brussels, free movement, and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
When offered the choice between a ‘hard’ Brexit and no deal, 59 per cent of Remain voters opted for the former option. They preferred a ‘soft’ Brexit only when offered a choice between that and no deal, with 58 per cent backing it.
Of all respondents, more than two-thirds (67 per cent) preferred the idea of leaving the EU without a deal to a ‘soft’ Brexit when given the choice of the two options, while 68 per cent opted for ‘hard’ over ‘soft’ Brexit. Among Leave voters, an overwhelming majority – 85 per cent – preferred a ‘hard’ exit to a ‘soft’ exit. LSE associate professor in political behaviour Thomas Leeper, who co-authored the report, said the results indicated that the public was more ‘eurosceptic’ than many thought. ‘When offered the choice between a soft, a hard Brexit and no deal, a majority of people preferred the harder alternative,’ he said. ‘The results suggest Remain voters are not as opposed to some of the harder Brexit positions as might be expected. ‘Even Remain voters are not that favourable towards certain aspects of EU membership. While they tend to be more favourable towards immigration and rights of EU citizens. slightlyyou ‘The might bulk more typicallyof British Euroscepticbelieve.’ people thanfeel The results will make unhappy reading for those who favour a second referendum on Britain’s EU membership, or who wish to form a new party of Remain back- ers. Associate Prof Leeper said: ‘Those calling for a second referendum are missing the complexities of the British public.’
The research also found that those who voted to Remain were more likely to acknowledge that their preferred options were not compatible with respecting the referendum result.
Brexit has been a difficult subject to poll because the public struggle to differentiate between the different, and sometimes incompatible, options. Surveys have showed that most of the public support free trade with the EU after Brexit – but a majority also back border controls, which is a contradictory position.
The academics offered choices between what a ‘soft’ or ‘ hard’ Brexit and no deal would mean in practice, avoiding any emotional attachment to the labels. Their results showed there was little evidence that voters had changed their mind about the result.
The issue of EU citizens’ rights after Brexit was the most divisive in the poll, with Remain voters strongly supporting those already in the UK staying indefinitely – something Leavers strongly oppose.
The polling shows that Remain campaigners are wrong to claim that Mrs May is wrong to pursue a proper break from the EU.
Last month Mr Blair said it was ‘possible now that Brexit doesn’t happen’ because ‘public opinion is moving’. Pro- Brexit Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said last night the survey ‘shows the strength of our democracy – people accept the results of elections’. He added: ‘It also is a reminder of how out of touch the Remoaners are.’