Public prefers staying in EU to ‘no deal’ – poll
MORE people in Wales would rather stay in the EU than face a “no-deal” Brexit, according to a new poll published today.
The research carried out by You Gov on behalf of Plaid Cymru, showed a six-point lead for those wishing to stay in the EU (48%) over those who felt Brexit should go ahead (42%) even if a deal is not brokered.
The latest poll comes as Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab prepares to travel to Brussels for a further round of talks with the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier.
And in a further development over the weekend, fashion tycoon and Superdry co-founder Julian Dunkerton donated £1m
to the campaign fighting for the right for a second referendum.
In spite of deep rifts within the Conservative Party over how Brexit should be conducted, the UK Government has consistently said the prospect of a “no-deal” departure should remain on the table.
But the latest polling will give succour to Brexit’s opponents from across the political spectrum.
Hywel Williams, Plaid Cymru MP for Arfon, said: “The reality of a ‘nodeal’ Brexit is clearly not in the public interest and this poll shows the public would reject it.
“A ‘no-deal’ Brexit puts jobs, medicines, citizens’ rights and even food supplies at risk.
“With a matter of months left to go before we find ourselves teetering on the Brexit cliff edge, Westminster must listen to the people of Wales – to ‘no deal’ they say ‘no thanks’.
“Deal or no deal, there are few left claiming that our nation will be richer as a result of our exit from the EU.
“It was only a matter of time before ordinary people called time on the bluff and bravado of this Westminster Government and the zealous Brexiteers who increasingly reject reality.
“The people of Wales can see through the pack of lies they were told two years ago.
“Now they know the truth, people must have a right to reject it – a vote on the final deal.
“It’s time the fanatical Brexiteers swallowed a spoonful of their own medicine and listened to the will of the people.”
Ministers last night reiterated their position on negotiations.
A Department for Exiting the European Union spokeswoman said: “We firmly believe it is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to strike a deal.
“That remains the goal on both sides and we are confident that this will be achieved.
“But it is the job of a responsible Government to prepare for all scenarios, including the unlikely event that we reach March 2019 without agreeing a deal.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said, “We have always made clear that it is extremely difficult to mitigate the potentially serious impacts on people, public services and businesses of a no deal scenario. That is why we have worked tirelessly to secure a comprehensive deal that includes full and unfettered access to the Single Market and membership of a customs union.
“We are totally focused on getting the best possible Brexit deal for Wales.”
The latest polling comes just days after another poll showed only one in four people expect leaving the EU will be positive for them and their family.
The You Gov poll of more than 1,000 Welsh adults, which was also commissioned by Plaid Cymru, found more people expect Brexit to be bad for Wales and the UK than have a positive effect.
Only 35% of people thought Brexit would be positive for the UK, while 44% expected it to be negative.
Twenty-five per cent thought leaving the EU will be positive for them and their family, while 36% expect negative consequences.
The EU has claimed there is a 50/50 chance of Britain facing a no-deal Brexit.
Denmark’s finance minister Kristian Jensen warned time was running
out between the UK and EU to forge a deal.
But he did describe the Chequers proposal put forward by Prime Minister Theresa May and the British Government as “a positive step forward and good basis for further negotiations”, although Brexiteers tore into the plans – which prompted ministerial walkouts by David Davis and Boris Johnson – claiming they will continue to tie Britain to the EU for decades.
Mr Jensen added: “We also want a deal that is as good and as solid as possible.”
Mr Jensen’s position is in line with Latvian foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics, who warned on Wednesday that the prospect of a no-deal outcome for Brexit posed a “very considerable risk”, but he was “remaining optimistic.”
But Conservative Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned Prime Minister Theresa May that eurosceptic Tory MPs will block the passage of her EU withdrawal plans unless they are changed.
Mr Rees-Mogg said the Prime Minister would find it “extraordinarily difficult” to rubber-stamp her plans if she does not come forward with major revisions before the end of the year.
He and other members of the Brexit-backing European Research Group (ERG) of Tory MPs are developing their own plans as an alternative to Mrs May’s, which underline the benefit of a no-deal Brexit.
Mr Rees-Mogg made clear over the weekend that if the “Chequers deal” being pursued by the Prime Minister fails to deliver the Brexit he believes Britain voted for, she will be opposed.
He said: “If she sticks with Chequers, she will find she has a block of votes against her in the House of Commons.
“Of course the eurosceptics in Parliament are not in a majority on all issues, but we will inevitably be in a majority on some of them and that will make the legislation extraordinarily difficult if it is based on Chequers.”
Mr Rees-Mogg, who is advocating Mrs May pursues a “Canadaplus” deal, as he believes it would win over a majority in the Commons, said Mrs May’s EU Withdrawal Bill had taken months to pass through Parliament.
He emphasised the longer it takes to tackle the deal, the Government “must come forward with a deal that Brexiteers like”, particularly if they are still trying to get the legislation through between January and early March.
On Thursday, the Government will start publishing its Brexit technical notices, underlining the knock-on effect of heading out of the EU without a deal, with all 84 due to be released before the end of September.
The YouGov poll used a sample of 1,034 adults and was conducted between August 9-13. The survey was carried out online. The figures were weighted and are representative of all adults in Wales.