University lecturers overwhelmingly come out in favour of a public vote on Brexit

A new survey revealed how 89% of higher and further education workers are in support of a new referendum. And academics celebrated on social media.

Nearly 90% of university and college staff support a referendum on the final Brexit deal negotiations.

That’s according to the University and College Union’s (UCU) latest survey, which asked 29,500 of its members how they felt about a public vote.

The overwhelming majority supported a new referendum, with 11% voting against it.

The union’s head of democratic services Paul Cottrell said:

“When trade unions negotiate a deal with employers they take whatever is agreed back to the membership to have the final say. We believe the government must do the same when it comes to the country’s biggest decision for a generation.

“UCU members have voted overwhelmingly to support a referendum on whatever Brexit deal the government finally agrees. There are strong views on all sides and I want to thank UCU members for conducting this debate in an excellent spirit, carefully listening to each other’s views and addressing the arguments.”

Experts have long warned that one of sectors to be worst hit by Brexit would be further and higher education, where over 50,000 EU national are currently employed.

A YouGov poll from early last year found that 90% of academics believed that Britain’s higher education would suffer after Brexit and three quarters of EU academics would rather “consider leaving” the country than continuing doing their jobs here. And an extraordinary 42% of British passport-holding lecturers felt the same.

The results of the latest survey will now inform the UCU’s policy in upcoming disputes.

Academics on social media raved about the results, with one UCU member named Lewis MacKenzie posting a gif in response to the result reading: “No sh*t Sherlock.”

Sheffield University social studies PhD candidate Martin Heneghan wrote:

“Great news! UCU members overwhelmingly back a People’s Vote on the Brexit deal. Hopefully many of these will make it to the People’s Vote March on Saturday. Academics can’t stand by and let something they believe to be disastrous for the country without engaging in the public debate.”

Paul Cottrell added:

“The vote unquestionably reflects widespread concern within further and higher education about the impact of Brexit on education, the many thousands of EU staff who work in the sector and its impact on society as a whole.”

An estimated 100,000 people are set to march for a People’s Vote on October 20 in London.

Joana Ramiro is a reporter for Left Foot Forward. You can follow her on Twitter for all sorts of rants here.

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