07 July 2019

The Independent: Public would prefer to cancel Brexit or hold second referendum than Halloween no-deal, poll shows

The public would rather scrap Brexit or hold a second referendum than face a chaotic no-deal at Halloween if the new prime minister cannot strike a fresh agreement, a poll has found.

Voters are sceptical that Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt can negotiate a better Brexit deal in only three months, amid the same political turmoil that toppled Theresa May.

If a new agreement proves impossible, something many in Westminster and Brussels expect, an exclusive survey found 43 per cent of voters would opt for revoking the decision to leave the EU over a disorderly Brexit, which was backed by 38 per cent.

The BMG poll for The Independent also found 41 per cent would support a Final Say referendum to resolve the impasse, a scenario that commands greater Commons support than cancelling Brexit altogether.

Alarm over the looming prospect of a no-deal Brexit has risen since Ms May’s resignation, as her likely successor, Mr Johnson, has pledged to leave the EU on 31 October, with or without an agreement.

The Brexiteer has stormed ahead in the Tory leadership contest with a pledge to “do or die” over Brexit, leaving his rival, Mr Hunt, scrambling to make up ground before the 22 July voting deadline.

It comes as pro-EU MPs were poised for a fresh Commons bid to prevent a new prime minister forcing through a no-deal Brexit in October.

Tory Brexit rebel Dominic Grieve is planning to amend the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) bill on Monday, to force the Commons to sit in October – making it impossible to suspend parliament or send MPs home before exit day.

The plan is likely to attract the support of opposition MPs, with questions over whether senior Tories who vehemently oppose no deal, such as chancellor Philip Hammond and David Gauke, the justice secretary, could also support it. [...]

Full article on The Independent

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