Support growing to remain in the EU

Voters would back staying in the European Union by 53 per cent to 47 per cent if a referendum was held now, says a major poll.

Some 45 per cent want a say on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations with 34 per cent opposed, the survey for the People’s Vote campaign found.

If talks break down, half of voters said the final decision over whether the UK should crash out of the bloc or remain in the EU should be taken by the public and a quarter said Parliament should decide.

Opponents of Brexit said the Yougov study of more than 10,000 adults showed opinion was shifting.

Peter Kellner, a leading pollster and former president of Yougov, said the findings were “politically significant”. He said: “Across the spectrum, the message from voters in this survey is clear: if the government and Parliament can’t sort out Brexit, the people should.”

Labour voters overwhelmingly said they would back remaining in the EU, some 77 per cent to 23 per cent for Leave.

Most back a referendum on the exit deal, 63 per cent compared to 18 per cent .

Mr Kellner said the polling showed the chasm between Labour members and the leadership over its approach to Brexit.