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More Britons favor second Brexit referendum: Poll

Saturday, 27 January 2018 7:15 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 27 January 2018 8:14 AM ]

Pro-EU protesters rally against Brexit in London, February 4, 2017. (Getty images)

More British voters support holding a second referendum on whether the UK should remain or leave the European Union amid growing concerns about the government’s Brexit negotiations with the bloc.

A poll conducted by ICM, a public opinion researcher, in conjunction with The Guardian newspaper, found that 47 percent of people would favor holding a second EU referendum once the terms of Britain’s exit are known, while 34 percent oppose reopening the question.

Excluding the roughly one-fifth who do not have a view gives a lead of 58 percent to 42 percent for a second referendum, showing rising interest in the idea as concern grows over the direction of recent Brexit talks between the UK and EU.

The increased backing has come from both sides of the debate, with one-quarter of leave voters in favor of having another referendum on the final deal.

The survey also shows mounting concerns in Britain about the impact of leaving the EU, with 43 percent of voters worried Brexit will have a negative effect on the UK economy and a narrow majority believing it will have a negative impact on the “British way of life.”

PressTV-UK protesters take part in huge anti-Brexit march

Anti-Brexit campaigners and activists have held massive demonstrations against the UK government’s austerity policies.

The British government has faced fierce criticism both at home and by the EU for its lack of clarity on its Brexit strategy.

The uncertainty has raised fears that Britain could crash out of the bloc without a trade deal, incurring heavy costs on domestic economy.

Brexit could cost the UK almost 500,000 jobs and nearly 50 billion pounds ($68 billion) in investment by 2030, according to a study commissioned by the mayor of London.

Mayor Sadiq Khan, who campaigned against Brexit, said it was “astonishing” that the government of UK Prime Minister Theresa May had failed to do any analyses on the impact of Brexit.

The Liberal Democrats and other pro-EU politicians have also called for a second Brexit referendum, arguing that Britons did not know the full repercussions of leaving the EU when they voted.

Earlier this month, leading Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage suggested that Britain should hold a second referendum on EU membership which he claims would silence those who are against leaving the bloc.

"Maybe, just maybe, we should have a second referendum on EU membership. It would kill off the issue for a generation once and for all," Farage said on Twitter.

European Council President Donald Tusk has said the EU would be open to a British rethink, while UK’s largest business organization is privately pushing for a new campaign to reverse Brexit.

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