Britons keen to maintain free trade but limit freedom of movement after Brexit
New research suggests the electorate’s view on Britain’s exit from the European Union has changed little since the vote nine months ago - they want to have their cake and eat it.
A survey conducted by NatCen and political journalist John Curtice showed that 88% of people are in favour of maintaining free trade with Europe, but 68% said EU immigrants should receive the same treatment as non-EU migrants.
UK prime minister Theresa May has indicated the government’s intention to pursue a so-called “Hard Brexit”, whereby the country will leave the single market operated by the EU.
Only 3% of respondents to the survey said that they were against the idea of Britain retaining free trade with the EU post-Brexit. Other characteristics of a “Soft Brexit” such as EU regulations on phone charges and bank passporting were supported by a majority of those surveyed.
The survey found that 70% were in favour of reducing the rights of British emigrants to the same level as those from outside the EU, but only 37% were happy with the loss of free healthcare for British tourists abroad.
The figures released were largely similar to a previous survey conducted by NatCen in autumn of 2016, showing a consistency in attitudes towards Brexit throughout a turbulent political period.
“British public opinion on Brexit might then be portrayed as hard on the outside, but rather softer in the middle,” the report concluded. “It is, however, a combination that potentially presents the UK government with a considerable challenge.”
“For the EU, free trade and freedom of movement are meant to go together. For British voters they do not, and above all, especially for Conservative voters. Meeting their expectations for Brexit could thus prove difficult.”
May is expected to trigger Article 50 on 29 March, which will kick off the lengthy and complex Brexit process, and will take up to two years to complete.