Poll shows Brits swing towards staying in EU

– British voters would vote 59-41 to stay in the European Union if given the option after a six-point swing away from Brexit, an opinion poll showed yesterday, the highest recorded support for EU membership in a survey since the 2016 referendum.

In the June 23, 2016 referendum, 17.4 million voters, or 51.9%

London

of the votes cast, backed leaving the EU while 16.1 million (48.1%) backed staying.

Polling showed 59% of voters would now vote to remain. That is the highest recorded support for “remain” in a series of five such surveys since the referendum.

The findings were published in a report by research bodies NatCen and The UK in a Changing Europe. Polling expert John Curtice, added a note of caution, saying their panel of interviewees had voted 53% in favour of remain in the original vote.

“Nevertheless, this would seemingly point to a 54% (Remain) vote in any second referendum held now,” Curtice said.

The government has ruled out holding a second referendum.

The survey interviewed 2 048 subjects between June 7 and July 8. That means the survey does not fully reflect any change in opinion brought about by the publication of Prime Minister Theresa May’s negotiating strategy, published in early July. – Reuters