Poll says 100 Leave constituencies would now vote to stay in the EU
THE majority of Westminster constituencies would now vote to Remain in the European Union, after a change of heart in 100 previously Leave seats, according to an analysis.
The study suggested the shift was driven by a rethink among Labour voters in Wales and northern England, adding to pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to adopt a pro-remain stance.
Among the seats flipping to Remain are those of several prominent Tory Brexiters – Boris Johnson’s Uxbridge & South Ruislip and Michael Gove’s Surrey Heath.
Labour Leavers Frank Field and Graham Stringer have also been left in the minority in their now-remain seats of Birkenhead and Blackley & Broughton.
The analysis, by data firm Focaldata, drew on two Yougov polls involving a total of 15,000 people and official census information.
It reported 112 of the 632 seats in England, Scotland and Wales had moved from Leave to Remain, up from 229 at the 2016 referendum to 341 now.
The analysis, jointly commissioned by the Best For Britain campaign for a second referendum and the Hope Not hate campaign against racism, put Leave on 47 per cent support today and Remain on 53 per cent, compared to the 52-48 vote for Brexit.
Elise Todd, head of Best For Britain, said: “The sands of public opinion are shifting and politicians risk falling behind. Our research shows the deal must be put to the people.”
Brexiter Tory MP Jacob Rees-mogg played down the polls finding a shift to Remain. “Most of the polls said people would vote to remain in the EU in 2016, but when people got to the ballot booth they voted to leave,” he told Sky News.
“The votes that matter are the votes cast in genuine elections. Opinion polls come up with a whole range of answers and they differ from day to day, but elections are authoritative.”
Libdem leader Sir Vince Cable added: “Whether someone voted to leave or stay in the EU in 2016, nearly everyone is disillusioned by the mess the Conservatives have made of Brexit.
“This research is yet more compelling evidence that the British people must be given the final say on any – or no – Brexit deal. The shallow argument against giving the people their say diminishes towards nothingness with every passing day.”
The SNP has revived an argument it made in the independence referendum, claiming Brexit would open the NHS in Scotland up to wholesale privatisation.
Dr Philippa Whitford, who later became an SNP MSP, warned in 2014 that if Scotland voted No it would lead to NHS privatisation, despite the NHS being devolved.
Dr Whitford, now SNP health spokeswoman at Westminster, said the latest threat was the UK Government commandeering procurement legislation as part of a Brexit “power grab”.
Procurement is one of two dozen devolved areas being repatriated from Brussels that the UK wants reserved at Westminster for up to seven years to maintain the UK single market.