Britons would narrowly back remaining in the EU: poll of polls

[webfact]

Britons would narrowly back remaining in the EU: poll of polls

 

FILE PHOTO - Tourist binoculars offer users the chance to pay in Pounds or Euros in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, April 20, 2017. REUTERS/Phil Noble

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britons would vote 52 to 48 percent in favour of remaining in the European Union were there to be another Brexit referendum, showing only a small change in public opinion since the 2016 vote, according to a poll of polls.

 

But researchers cautioned that a narrow victory for those hoping to reverse the decision taken two years ago would be heavily contingent on getting those who did not vote last time to turn out.

 

The figures are calculated by taking the average of the six most recent surveys by major pollsters between Aug. 21 and Sept. 10.

 

"True, Remain enjoys a lead in the polls. But that lead remains a narrow one, and there is little sign of it growing," said Senior Research Fellow at The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) John Curtice.

 

"It rests quite heavily on the preferences of those who did not vote two years ago, and who by two to one now say they would back Remain. Getting them to turn out to vote in any second ballot might yet prove a considerable challenge."

 

London and Brussels are racing to agree a Brexit deal but Prime Minister Theresa May's proposals have been criticised by both the European Union and Eurosceptics within her party. She has ruled out having a second referendum.

 

But the main opposition Labour Party is open to a second public vote with the option of staying in the bloc, its Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer said earlier this week.

 

Campaigners on both sides of the argument have been stepping up their efforts in recent weeks as some Brexiteers argue for a cleaner break from the EU and Remainers say ending membership as currently planned would do economic damage to Britain.

 

(Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Stephen Addison)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-28

[Phuket Man]

They should have thought about that 2 years ago before getting the country in the mess it is in today.

[nausea]

Too late now, you've made your bed, lie in it. I just wish they'd get on with it. How are you supposed to make personal plans when nobody knows where we're gonna be in a year's time. Anyway, comes over to me as a juxtaposition of egos, I think the true interests of the common man are coming in a poor second.

[jesimps]

Those who could be arsed to vote chose Brexit under the democratic rules. Just get on with it.

[robertson468]

6 hours ago, nausea said:

Too late now, you've made your bed, lie in it. I just wish they'd get on with it. How are you supposed to make personal plans when nobody knows where we're gonna be in a year's time. Anyway, comes over to me as a juxtaposition of egos, I think the true interests of the common man are coming in a poor second.

And the frequency of Polls getting their percentages wrong is....................?

[Andrew65]

There was a Populus opinion poll on June 21/22 2016 a day or 2 before the real one, the last big opinion poll.

 

The result was: Leave 48%; Remain 52%

[Bluespunk]

6 hours ago, nausea said:

Too late now, you've made your bed, lie in it. I just wish they'd get on with it. How are you supposed to make personal plans when nobody knows where we're gonna be in a year's time. Anyway, comes over to me as a juxtaposition of egos, I think the true interests of the common man are coming in a poor second.

It’s not too late. 

 

Britain is still in the eu. 

[Forethat]

This is the same poll that predicted a clear win for the "Remain" side the 24 months leading up to the referendum...?

 

Ring a bell?

[dick dasterdly]

Oh good - another poll....

 

Having got it so wrong prior to the referendum, I'm amazed that some posters are still so willing to believe poll results!

 

Having said this, I'm impressed by the spin in the topic OP - 'poll of polls' ????.

[blazes]

If any British government were so stupid as to order a second referendum, it would cause untold damage to civil society and to law and order.  The anger would be extreme, no matter what the result of such a "try-again-until-you-get-it-right" referendum

[snowflake]

The  whole thing is finaced by the EU, still clinging on to be the dictating power in Europe. I hope that the UK will manage to break lose from that horrible union of unelected leaders. Its time for countries to govern themselves.

[dunroaming]

Yes another poll, just what we all need.  What we actually need is a workable plan from the government.  No point in us saying "just get on with it" because they can only get on with it when there is something to get on with!

[mommysboy]

2 hours ago, Andrew65 said:

There was a Populus opinion poll on June 21/22 2016 a day or 2 before the real one, the last big opinion poll.

 

The result was: Leave 48%; Remain 52%

 

Well, based on this there has been no real shift.  Maybe a credible poll which shows even 55% would be worthy of consideration.  The fact is leave won.  The most salient issue is how to carry through the mandate in a manner that is reasonable; no deal clearly isn't imo.

 

I'm not opposed to polls but why don't they ask questions on the issues we all need to know about:

 

1. Do you support a no deal Brexit?

 

2. Would you prefer a no deal Brexit, or the Norway model?

 

3. Would you prefer a deferment subject to a properly negotiated exit?

 

I'm sure there are other questions too.  But am I the only one who really doesn't know where the public really stands on these fundamental points?

 

 

[Thingamabob]

9 hours ago, Phuket Man said:

They should have thought about that 2 years ago before getting the country in the mess it is in today.

What mess ?

[Jingthing]

No shame in changing your mind when you have new information and realize you've made a grave mistake. 

[mommysboy]

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

No shame in changing your mind when you have new information and realize you've made a grave mistake. 

 

Quite so. But the shift is hardly resounding.  And then what? Leavers would be perfectly entitled to demand a third poll!  Best of five anyone?

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

 

Quite so. But the shift is hardly resounding.  And then what? Leavers would be perfectly entitled to demand a third poll!  Best of five anyone?

Whatever it takes? Looking from the outside, the whole idea seems obviously self destructive. If it's not done yet, and it's not, why feel obligated to follow through on a clear mistake? 

[ballpoint]

I saw this on the Bloomberg channel yesterday.  The first step towards making the idea of a Brexit reversal an accepted option.  I wouldn't be surprised to hear Merkel say something similar shortly.  It's quite clear that The UK government doesn't want to leave the EU.  The major EU governments don't want the UK to leave.  Both are hoping for a reversal, and will "punish" the British people by making things tougher than they need to be if one doesn't come.

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-26/macron-says-he-d-welcome-u-k-back-to-eu-if-voters-change-mind

[dunroaming]

3 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

 

Quite so. But the shift is hardly resounding.  And then what? Leavers would be perfectly entitled to demand a third poll!  Best of five anyone?

A second referendum asking the same questions as in the first is pointless and isn't appropriate.  If the people get an opportunity for a final vote it should be on the deal or no deal that the government have agreed on.  And that vote should be, like the referendum, non binding.

[dunroaming]

8 minutes ago, ballpoint said:

I saw this on the Bloomberg channel yesterday.  The first step towards making the idea of a Brexit reversal an accepted option.  I wouldn't be surprised to hear Merkel say something similar shortly.  It's quite clear that The UK government doesn't want to leave the EU.  The major EU governments don't want the UK to leave.  Both are hoping for a reversal, and will "punish" the British people by making things tougher than they need to be if one doesn't come.

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-26/macron-says-he-d-welcome-u-k-back-to-eu-if-voters-change-mind

 

Yes and in an ideal world that would be that.  In Britain this referendum has highlighted something far deeper than Brexit.  It has exposed an intense bitterness from parts of society that have obviously been repressed for a long time.  I am really shocked at just how divided our society has become.  It has divided families, friends and workmates and is not going to be easily healed whatever route the UK takes.  Economically it would make sense to dump Brexit but that would cause things to deteriorate further, in my opinion.

 

I know I am the voice of doom over this but it is hard to see any upside.

[ivor bigun]

It’s not too late. 
 
Britain is still in the eu. 

But not for longand if there was another vote 52% remain 48% leave,as its so close would we have another vote?

Sent from my SM-A720F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Bluespunk]

Just now, ivor bigun said:

But not for longand if there was another vote 52% remain 48% leave,as its so close would we have another vote?

Sent from my SM-A720F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Nothing is done and if people want a vote to stay they have every right to call for one. 

[ivor bigun]

Nothing is done and if people want a vote to stay they have every right to call for one. 

So by that thinking ,those who want to leave have every right to call for another one ,then those who and on and on.

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[brewsterbudgen]

Seems very tight. Once the full ramifications of a "no deal" Brexit are fully realised the gap will widen significantly. Brexit will be put off until a new Remain government is elected and/or a referendum is held. Just watch!

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[Bluespunk]

11 minutes ago, ivor bigun said:

So by that thinking ,those who want to leave have every right to call for another one ,then those who and on and on.

Sent from my SM-A720F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

If they wish to.

 

That’s how democracy works. 

[Forethat]

2 hours ago, blazes said:

If any British government were so stupid as to order a second referendum, it would cause untold damage to civil society and to law and order.  The anger would be extreme, no matter what the result of such a "try-again-until-you-get-it-right" referendum

Hear hear! 

As so nicely put by Jacob Rees-Mogg, the 2016 referendum was based on a manifesto commitment from David Cameron in 2015, and it was affirmed by the 2017 general election when both major parties said that they would implement the result of the referendum. So we've had THREE national votes on leaving the EU. Those who want another referendum simply hold democracy in contempt.

[JAG]

What should have happened of course was that a general election should have been called once the dust had settled and article 50 had been triggered. That would have allowed the voters to decide who they wished to handle Brexit, and even allowed those parties who wished to cancel Brexit the chance to win power. 

 

Ah, hang on a moment..

[ivor bigun]

If they wish to.
 
That’s how democracy works. 

On and on yeh best of luck with what would happen to a country if that was the way to do it

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[iroc4life]

Are they really going to re-open this wound? The polls have always been that even before the vote the polls said Remains were ahead :)

[Basil B]

4 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

It’s not too late. 

 

Britain is still in the eu. 

As a person who voted Remain I would not if there were another rerun referendum unless Messers: Junkers, Barnier, etc were to jump under a EU bus, and there were a number of concessions the things Cameron was (or should have been) asking for.