Brexit: More Remainers have changed their mind than Leavers!

DOWNING Street last night seized on a poll showing more Remain voters have changed their minds about Brexit than Leavers.

Theresa May’s director of communications Robbie Gibb said the survey showed ‘the country hasn’t changed its mind’ on getting out of the EU.

Nearly half of Britons – 47 per cent – believe we should leave the EU on March 29 as planned, the Deltapoll survey for the Sun on Sunday found.

Some 62 per cent of those questioned said they had not changed their minds since June 2016. And of those who had – 13 per cent of the total – more were ex-Remainers than Leavers.

A total of 15 per cent of Remain voters said they now want to Leave, while 11 per cent of Leavers now want to stay in the EU. Mr Gibb – a former BBC executive – wrote: ‘1.9million Leave voters say they would now vote to Remain. But 2.4million Remain voters would now vote to Leave. The country hasn’t changed its mind.’

Remain campaigners insisted they had ‘better polls’ and called for a second referendum. Tom Baldwin, of the ‘People’s Vote’ campaign said: ‘Better polls tell a different story. But if you’re so sure, give us a people’s vote and let’s test the will of the people.’ Mr Gibb hit back: ‘As you know the prospect of a second referendum would damage UK negotiations.’

In recent months Remainers have stepped up their demands for a second referendum. They have pointed to a series of polls suggesting large numbers of voters have changed their minds. One suggested 100 Leave supporting constitutencies now back Remain.

But yesterday’s poll indicated that if anything, Britons are more determined to make sure we leave. Asked if we should leave on March 29 as planned, 47 per cent said yes, 28 per cent no and 8 per cent that they didn’t know.

A total of 48 per cent said the political classes were ‘deliberately trying to make heavy weather of Brexit talks to convince the public to change their minds’.

And fewer than one in three supports a second ‘in- out referendum’. Some 15 per cent said they want a second referendum, but only on the terms of the deal. The findings will reassure ministers in a week when details of planning for ‘no deal’ will be released. A raft of notices giving guidance to businesses and the public will suggest Britain will continue to accept many EU rules in order to make sure trade continues.

Talks will restart tomorrow between Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and EU negotiator Michel Barnier. Yesterday Mr Raab said: ‘It is the responsibility of the EU to ensure its consumers and businesses are not harmed. The UK Government believes this is best achieved by both sides taking a non-disruptive approach and will be encouraging cooperation with the EU on no-deal planning.’

‘Securing a deal is still by far the most likely outcome, but we want to make sure that we clearly set out the steps that people, businesses and public services need to take in the unlikely event that we don’t reach an agreement.’

Sir Peter Tapsell, who served as a Tory MP for more than 50 years, has died at 88. He began his political career at 25 as a speechwriter for prime minister Sir Anthony Eden. Sir Peter, a Eurosceptic, was MP for Louth and Horncastle. He became Father of the House, before stepping down at the 2015 general election.