Poll finds most people are now ‘pessimistic’ about results of Brexit

More than half of Britons believe UK will not get a good deal from the EU

Most people now think the UK will get a bad Brexit deal, according to a new survey.

A report by Professor John Curtice suggests the UK public has become more critical of the way negotiations are being handled and more pessimistic about the consequences.

A survey of 2,200 people found 52% now think Britain will get a bad deal – up from 37% in February – while the proportion of Leave voters who think the UK will get a good Brexit deal has fallen from 51% to 28%.

Some 61% of those asked said the Government is handling negotiations badly.

The study: “What UK Thinks: EU”, carried out for the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) website also found just 21% of Leave voters think the Government has handled the Brexit negotiations well.

“It might be thought the increased pessimism is primarily the result of Remain voters becoming increasingly disenchanted with the Brexit process,” said Professor Curtice.

“However, this is not what has happened.

“Rather, pessimism has become much more widespread among those who voted Leave.”

The research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, found the balance of public opinion on what kind of Brexit Britain should be seeking has not changed much during the year.

The proportion who think the country should “definitely” or “probably” allow freedom of movement for EU citizens in return for securing free trade dropped from 54% in February to 53%.

Professor Curtice explained the findings show a growing disappointment with the Brexit process will not necessarily persuade voters to change their minds about the wisdom of leaving the EU, or the kind of Brexit the UK should be seeking, with their focus instead on politicians, including Prime Minister Theresa May.

He added: “So far at least voters seem inclined to blame the actors in the Brexit process for their perceived failure to be delivering what voters want rather than draw the conclusion that the act of leaving is misguided.

“A difficult Brexit could simply prove politically costly for Mrs May and her beleaguered government rather than a catalyst for a change of heart on Brexit.”

Professor Curtice believes the figures suggest a difficult Brexit could be costly for Mrs May and her government rather than a sign of a change of heart on the need for the UK to leave the EU.