A Sky Data poll has found that a no-deal Brexit is the most popular leave option, whilst a Survation poll has found voters believe the UK exiting the EU on World Trade Organization (WTO) rules is now the most likely outcome.
A poll of 2,036 UK adults by SMS conducted by the commercial broadcaster on January 30th revealed that in terms of a leave option, 39 percent backed a no-deal Brexit.
Just over one-third, 34 percent, backed leaving the EU with no Irish backstop arrangement, with 27 percent backing Prime Minister Theresa May’s deal with the backstop.
The backstop is a controversial part of the Withdrawal Agreement that could see Northern Ireland locked in regulatory alignment with the EU to allegedly prevent a so-called ‘hard border’ with the Republic of Ireland if a deal on a future UK-EU relationship is not agreed by the end of the transition period in December 2020.
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The survey also found that six in ten Britons believe those trying to delay Brexit day by extending Article 50 are trying to stop Brexit altogether — with remain-voting Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt intimating Thursday morning that Brexit day may need to be delayed to give the Government “some extra time” to “pass critical legislation.”
A separate poll by Survation and commissioned by the Daily Mail of 1,029 adults, taken online on Wednesday, found that the majority (36 percent) believe the most likely outcome is a no-deal Brexit.
On Tuesday, MPs voted on seven amendments to the government’s Brexit bill, with one passing which seeks to prevent a no-deal Brexit. Despite passing (with just a majority of eight), the Government can ignore it.
Leaving the EU without a deal the legal default position if an agreement is not struck in time for exit day on March 29th, with Brexit architect Nigel Farage reminding Remainers MPs earlier this month that that was agreed by nearly 500 of their colleagues in February 2017.
The likelihood of leaving the bloc without a deal and moving onto WTO rules has increased after Brussels bureaucrats refused to reopen negotiations on the Withdrawal Agreement.
Mr Farage told the European Parliament Wednesday, “The reason a no-deal Brexit has got a little bit closer is the sheer language and attitude, not just from the Commission, but many in the [European] Parliament towards the United Kingdom. I think public opinion would be very, very angry that there is no give today from anybody in Brussels whatsoever.”