Most Britons want referendum respected

Public ‘just wants Brexit uncertainty over’, as poll shows an election would deliver a hung Parliament

MORE than half of British adults believe the result of the 2016 referendum should be respected, and Brexit delivered, says a new poll.

Fifty four per cent agree the referendum result should be respected, the survey by Comres found. Just 25 per cent disagreed and 21 per cent didn’t know. Of those who voted Remain in 2016, more than a third (35 per cent) said they now wanted Brexit delivered.

Last week, Mr Johnson said he would rather “die in a ditch” than extend Article 50 after rebel Tories helped push through legislation compelling him to delay Brexit for three months if he cannot strike a new deal with Brussels within days of the EU summit on Oct 17.

Asked if Brexit should be postponed until Jan 31, almost half (49 per cent) disagreed, as against 29 per cent who agreed (22 per cent didn’t know).

Two in five (43 per cent) agreed that if the EU makes no concessions, the UK should leave without a deal on Oct 31, compared with a third (32 per cent) who disagreed (25 per cent didn’t know). Those intending to vote Conservative agreed by a ratio of 10 to one.

The findings suggest the Prime Minister also has the support of voters over Mr Corbyn when it comes to calling a general election. Although “Brenda from Bristol” voiced the nation’s dismay at going back to the polls in 2017, 40 per cent agreed the Labour leader was wrong to oppose Mr Johnson’s bid for another ballot on Oct 15, compared with 30 per cent who disagreed (30 per cent didn’t know).

Highlighting the public’s frustration with the impasse, 60 per cent agreed Brexit showed the British constitution was in need of reform – 11 per cent disagreed (29 per cent didn’t know). Almost half of British adults (44 per cent) said they would rather leave the EU without a deal than have Mr Corbyn as prime minister, compared with 33 per cent who disagreed. Half of British adults said they would rather stay in the EU than have Mr Corbyn as prime miniscent) ter, compared with 22 per cent who disagreed. The survey found that while nearly half of voters were afraid of the impact of no deal (46 per cent), a similar proportion “just want the uncertainty to be over” (48 per cent).

Older voters were less worried than younger voters, with a majority of those aged 18-34 and 35-54 (both 51 per fearing the consequences, compared with just a third (37 per cent) of those aged 55 and over.

But asked if they agreed with the statement: ‘I don’t really care whether or not, or how, the UK leaves the EU, I just want the uncertainty to be over’, 48 per cent said yes and 37 per cent said no (15 per cent didn’t know).

Asked if it was “fundamentally undemocratic” for some MPS to try to prevent the UK from leaving in light of the promise to implement the referendum result, 50 per cent agreed and 26 per cent disagreed. Nine in 10 Brexit Party voters (89 per cent) and two thirds of those who intend to vote Conservative (69 per cent) agreed Mr Johnson should make a pact with Nigel Farage to secure a parliamentary majority for no deal. But overall the nation was split on the issue, with 36 per cent agreeing compared with 34 per cent disagreeing.

Comres voting intention shows the Tories just ahead of Labour (30 to 29 per cent) with the Lib Dems on 17 per cent and the Brexit Party on 13 per cent. If the parties achieve these vote shares at a general election, the Conservatives would be the largest party but 32 seats short of a majority (Con 294, Lab 260, LD 38, SNP 36, Brex 0, PC 3, Grn 1).

Comres surveyed 2,016 British adults online between Sept 6 and 8.