Most voters would support a fresh in-out referendum on membership of the European Union if Theresa May could not secure a post-Brexit deal, according to a new poll.
According to BMG Research, 54% of those with a view would back a second vote – to 46% against – if the UK were left with no preferential trade or customs arrangement with the EU after Brexit.
74% of 18-24 year olds would back a new referendum in the event of ‘no deal’, compared to only 40% of over 55s with a view.
31% of Conservatives would back a second vote, compared 70% of current Labour supporters.
The findings come after comments from Michael Gove suggesting voters will be able to force changes to an EU withdrawal deal at the next election if they do not support it, and comments from Tony Blair this week arguing Brexit should be reversed.
The figure is particularly high for Scotland, with 77% of Scots supporting a fresh in-out vote if talks were unsuccessful. That drops to 42% of people in the East of England.
A surprising one in five (21%) Leave voters would support another referendum if the negotiations failed and the UK was left to trade under World Trade Organisation rules.
'Severe affects'
In the run-up to last year's European referendum, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) campaigned for Remain, despite research from the CLA showing that rural areas voted Leave more heavily than the national average.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said a 'no-deal' scenario would have "severe affects" for farmers.
“The time has come for both the UK and EU governments to acknowledge that businesses and individuals across Europe will suffer if a deal securing an ongoing and closely-integrated economic relationship is not reached,” Mr Raymond said.
“A no deal - in terms of a transition period or the long-term future relationship - would have severe affects for UK farmers and growers.
“With the vast majority of our exported farmed produce going to the EU any impacts on food production and farming would have severe knock on effects to the entire food supply chain, and ultimately the public.”
Indeed, a report concluded that a ‘no-deal’ outcome would lead to a collapse in trade, with a 90% drop in beef exports and 53% drop in lamb exports from the UK to the EU.
Average farm profitability could also drop from £38,000 to £15,000 a year in the worst case scenario as a result of policy and performance challenges that come from Brexit.
