Survey reveals 60% of people in NI think a united Ireland is more likely after Brexit

EIGHTY percent of respondents in a Belfast Telegraph survey who voted for Brexit would do so again — with 15% saying they’ve changed their mind.

Among those who voted Remain, 95% would do so again, with 3% switching sides.

A total of 3,882 people took part in the non-scientific survey which quizzed respondents on their views on Theresa May’s Brexit deal, Leo Varadkar’s contribution to the debate, and the future of Stormont.

Sixty percent of people questioned believed Brexit has made a united Ireland more likely.

Younger respondents were more likely to feel this was the case, with a third of those aged 1834 agreeing “definitely” compared to just a fifth of the over 55s.

Nearly three-quarters of those who voted Remain in the 2016 referendum believe Brexit could lead to Irish unity compared to 39% of those who voted Leave.

A majority of those taking part in the survey said there should be a second Brexit referendum — 55% compared to 40% opposing one.

Of the five main parties, DUP supporters were the most against a second Brexit referendum, with 79% opposing it and 19% for it.

Ulster Unionist voters were much more divided on Brexit — 59% were against a second referendum but 35% backed one.

The highest support for a second referendum was amongst SDLP (81%), Alliance (79%) and Sinn Fein (76%) voters.

Respondents were split on whether Theresa May’s Brexit deal represented a threat to the Union — 45% believed it didn’t but 41% thought it did.

DUP voters were almost twice as likely as UUP ones to strongly agree that the withdrawal agreement was a threat to the Union — 62% to 34%.

A total of 59% of respondents believed the DUP and UUP are wrong to oppose the Prime Minister’s deal while a third thought they were right.

Three-quarters of DUP voters believed the unionist parties had adopted the correct stance while a fifth said they hadn’t. Again, the UUP was more divided with half

of its voters backing unionist opposition to the withdrawal agreement but over 40% against it.

Sinn Fein voters were the most likely to say the unionist parties were wrong (91%) followed by

SDLP (85%) and Alliance (79%) supporters. Asked if Mrs May’s deal increased the risk of violence in Northern Ireland, a total of 48% of respondents said it didn’t with 30% believing it did.

Sixty per cent of respondents said Northern Ireland would benefit from having special status after Brexit, while over a quarter disagreed.

Sinn Fein voters were the most

optimistic about special status (86%) followed by SDLP (82%) and Alliance (77%) supporters.

Respondents were evenly split on whether the Prime Minister’s deal represented the best pos- sible outcome for Northern Ireland — with 43% agreeing and the same number disagreeing.

Sinn Fein voters were the keenest on the deal by far — 69% were behind it, followed by 58% of SDLP and 50% of Alliance supporters.

Almost 70% of DUP voters did not believe the withdrawal agreement was the best possible outcome for Northern Ireland, although nearly a quarter did.

Again, the UUP was more closely split on the issue — 48% of its voters opposing Mrs May’s deal as the best way forward but 38% supporting it.

More than three quarters of respondents were concerned about the impact Brexit would have on Northern Ireland’s economy. Just over half of those questioned (54%) believed Brexit would affect their lives while 23% thought it wouldn’t. Sinn Fein supporters (74%) were most likely to personally fear Brexit’s impact.

The majority of respondents (79%) also said they wanted to see a return to Stormont — but unionists (74%) were slightly less keen than nationalists (80%).