Nearly half of Brits want new Brexit referendum

Nearly half of Britons want a second Brexit referendum in the next 10 years, according to a new poll.

The survey by YouGov also found the figure rocketed to 70% among those voters who backed Remain in the 2016 referendum.

And more than a quarter of all those polled support a referendum as soon as the end of this year.

It also showed a growing sense of dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of Brexit. 72% of Britons now say that the government is doing badly in its handling of Brexit, up from 68% in April.

Less than a third of people (30%) think Brexit is “done”, while 49% said it is not complete.

Beth Mann, political researcher at YouGov, said: “Despite high levels of ‘Bregret’ among the British public, this new polling shows that there is not necessarily a widespread appetite for another referendum anytime soon.

“However, there are strong party divisions that could swing campaigns as we head into the next election and beyond, with a significant majority of those who currently intend to vote Labour backing a referendum on rejoining the EU within the next five or 10 years.

“Our figures also suggest that if a referendum were to be held now, Britain rejoining the EU would come out on top. So, while political leaders have time on their side, this polling suggests that there will likely come a point in the coming years when conversations about another referendum will be hard to avoid.”

When asked how they would vote if there was a referendum on rejoining the EU, half of the participants said they would vote to rejoin. Just 30% said they would vote to stay out.

Remain voters are overwhelmingly in favour of another referendum, with 41% saying there should be one this year, 61% within the next five years and 70% in the next 10 years. Only 8% of 2016 Leave voters support a referendum in 2023, 16% think there should be one in the next five years, and 20% within the next 10 years.

The figures divide as starkly on party allegiance, with 10% of those planning to vote Conservative at the next general election wanting an immediate referendum, 13% in the next five years and 21% in the next decade. Conversely, 42% of Labour voters would like to see a second referendum this year, with 63% saying the next five years and 69% in the next 10.

The survey was conducted between August 8-9.