Two thirds of voters think Brussels will come out on top in Brexit negotiations – new poll
2 min read
Almost two thirds of voters believe Brussels will come out on top in Brexit negotiations, according to a new poll.
The survey, by BMG Research for Left Foot Forward, found 63% of people with a view thought EU chiefs would secure a better outcome during the talks, while only 37% expected the UK to come out ahead.
Even among Brexit supporters a large proportion were pessimistic about the UK’s prospects, with 39% of Leave voters expecting Britain to get an inferior deal.
Labour supporters and Scottish voters were the most negative, with around three quarters predicting Europe would get the upper hand as negotiations progress.
Older voters were more optimistic than younger voters, with 45% of over-55s backing the UK compared to just 29% of 35-54s.
The new figures were compiled before the latest Brexit announcement yesterday, in which David Davis and Michel Barnier revealed the terms of a transition deal.
The pair welcomed agreement in key areas, including on the financial settlement and citizens’ rights.
But they also conceded that there was more work to be done to reach a solution on the Northern Irish border issue, which has so far dominated talks.
Britain accepted the EU’s demand for the transition period to end on 31 December 2020 and that EU migrants arriving in the UK during the interim phase will have exactly the same rights as those who arrive before.
He also admitted that the UK would still be subject to the EU’s rules on fishing during the handover, in a concession later dubbed a “disappointment" by Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson.
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