More people in favour of second UK vote on Brexit

LONDON: More people in Britain are now in favour than oppose holding a second vote on Brexit, for the first time since the referendum rocked the political landscape two years ago, according to a poll.

The YouGov poll in The Times newspaper found a fresh vote – focusing on the terms of the Brexit deal – would be backed by 42 per cent of the public compared to 40 per cent who would oppose it. Several lawmakers are adding pressure to their campaigns for a second referendum on Britain’s impending departure from the European Union, scheduled for the end of March, as a way of breaking the deadlock in parliament.

London and Brussels are yet to reach an agreement on the terms of Britain’s exit from the bloc, and lawmakers are split on Prime Minister Theresa May’s proposals to keep Britain close to the EU on trade – parts of which have since been rejected by Brussels.

In the survey out Friday, respondents were asked: “Once the Brexit negotiations are complete and the terms of Britain’s exit from the EU have been agreed, do you think there should or should not be a referendum to accept or reject them?”

Forty-two per cent of respondents said there should, while 40 perc ent said there should not.

YouGov has been asking the same question since April 2017 – when those opposed was at 48 to 31 per cent – and the gap has been steadily narrowing since.

Meanwhile a petition launched Wednesday by The Independent online newspaper calling for a new referendum is approaching 300,000 signatures – challenging May’s declaration that there will be no second vote. — AFP