UK voters would narrowly back remain in new Brexit referendum

Britons would vote 52% to 48% remain in the European Union if a new Brexit referendum were to take place, according to a poll of polls.

Researchers have found that to get a majority remain outcome of the vote, the campaign would need to rely on people who did not vote last time to turn out.

The results of the poll of polls was taken by calculating the average of the latest six surveys between 21 August and September 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 John Curtice to Reuters.

“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.”

The result comes at a time when the UK and the European Union are racing to secure a Brexit deal before the divorce date on March 2019. The possibilities of a no-deal scenario are increasing, with all the problems that would entail for travellers, foreign citizens, business and finance.

Some companies are already stockpiling goods to avoid trade issues after Brexit and the government has released guidelines for citizens to follow to reduce the negative effects the divorce could have.

The government are still backing May’s Chequers deal for Brexit even though it has been rejected by the EU and by Tory members On the other hand the Labour Party is open to a second public vote with the option of staying in the bloc, announced Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer this week.