Most Britons think EU is trying to punish us

THE EU is trying to ‘punish’ Britain for daring to leave the bloc, two thirds of voters now believe.

More than six in ten, including half of Remain voters and three quarters of Leavers, said they didn’t think the EU wanted to agree a good Brexit deal.

Instead, Britons think the bloc wants to make an example of Britain to stop other countries attempting to follow in our footsteps. The figures were revealed in a poll by former Conservative Party treasurer Lord Ashcroft. The survey shows Leavers and Remainers have very different priorities for the talks.

Out of 1 possible objectives, Leavers want to make sure Britain no longer pays money to the EU.

They want the ability to negotiate new trade deals, freedom from European Court of Justice rulings and immigration controls. But Remainers want to ensure UK banking and financial service firms can continue to do business in Europe, maintaining common rules and safety standards on consumer goods, EU citizens already here being allowed to stay and a common approach to workers’ rights. The poll also shows voters are now less sure about a good outcome from Brexit talks, with a ten-point fall in confidence since March.

About 62 per cent agree the EU is ‘not really trying its best to get a good deal – they want to punish the UK and stop other countries wanting to leave’.

And just 11 per cent of those asked said the EU was ‘genuinely trying its best to agree a good deal’.