Boris speech: Poll finds voters still in the dark on Tories’ Brexit position

“Boris Johnson may want to quash attempts to halt Brexit, but in-fighting in the cabinet is not doing that fight any favours."

Voters are still in the dark about the main parties’ positions on Brexit, with around half saying the three main parties’ stances are unclear.

On the morning that Boris Johnson gave a speech aiming to outline a ‘vision’ for post-Brexit Britain, the BMG Research poll for Left Foot Forward reveals that 57% of the public say the Conservatives’ Brexit position is unclear – rising to 69% when ‘don’t knows’ are excluded.

It appears the Conservatives’ position has got even muddier after a month of in-fighting and concerns over the party’s leadership. In January, just 46% said their Brexit stance was not very clear or not clear at all.

For the Conservatives, over-55s (at 62%) are unsure of the party’s position on Brexit, while 42% of their own voters say their stance is unclear (to 52% who think it is very/somewhat clear).

Overall, 56% of Leave voters and 72% of Remain supporters think the Tories’ position on Brexit is unclear – rising to 63% and 80% when ‘don’t knows’ are taken out.

Labour’s position

Just 25% of voters think Labour’s Brexit stance is clear – a slight fall on figures of 28% a month ago (though it is within the margin of error).

A clear majority – 57% – say Labour’s position on Brexit is not very clear or not very clear at all – rising to 70% when ‘don’t knows’ are excluded.

Young voters are split when it comes to Labour, with 37% saying Labour’s position is clear, to 40% who disagree.

Older voters (72% of over 55s) and wealthier voters (66% of professional ‘AB’ workers) are among those who believe Labour’s position is unclear.

Labour voters themselves are split on the issue – 47% think their party’s stance is somewhat/very clear, compared to 43% who disagree.

The murkiness crosses Leave/Remain lines: both sides are in the dark on the issue. 66% of Leave backers say they Labour’s stance is unclear, and 62% of Remain supporters (rising to 74% and 69% when ‘don’t knows’ are taken out).

Left Foot Forward Editor Josiah Mortimer, who commissioned the poll, said:

“Boris Johnson may want to quash attempts to halt Brexit, but in-fighting in the cabinet is not doing that fight any favours. Voters simply don’t know what the Tories’ position is on Brexit, amid a total lack of vision and a Conservative party at war with itself.

“The situation is no more uplifting for Labour. There is still little clarity over big issues like the Single Market and Customs Union – let alone what it would take before the party backed giving voters another say.

“Both parties owe it to the public to present a clear and inspiring vision of what happens next. At the moment, it’s nowhere to be seen – not in Boris’ grandstanding nor in Jeremy Corbyn’s prevarication. It’s time voters had a real choice on Brexit, not vague gestures or meandering lectures.”

Eloise Todd, CEO of Best for Britain, said:

“This poll is stark…In particular, Labour need to make 2018 the year they move from fudge on Brexit to clarity. This poll shows the total disconnect between the mass membership of the Labour party and the leadership.

“If Labour do this as a party, they will join the growing numbers of people who think Brexit is a bad idea and want all options back on the table.”

Francis Grove-White, Deputy Director of Open Britain, added:

“Despite Boris Johnson’s bluster, voters still don’t seem to know what the positions of the main parties are on Brexit.

“This isn’t surprising, as the government in particular have provided us with zero clarity beyond fantastical visions of cake and unicorns.

“The Labour Party also need to listen to the voice of their supporters and back staying in the Single Market and the Customs Union for the long-term.”

Liberal Democrats

And despite their apparently clear support for the Single Market and a second referendum, 49% of voters say the Liberal Democrats’ Brexit stance is unclear, to 25% who say it is. 61% of their own supporters believe their position is clear (NB: The sample size is small however).

The questions asked was: ‘In your view, how clear or unclear do you think each of the following parties are with respect to their Brexit stance/policies?’ – with options for Labour, Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

The BMG Research poll was conducted between 6th and 9th February 2018 with 1,507 GB adults.

See also: Revealed: Vast majority think UK will come out of Brexit talks worse off than EU – poll

2 Responses to “Boris speech: Poll finds voters still in the dark on Tories’ Brexit position”

  1. Martyn Wood-Bevan

    Labour has a VERY CLEAR policy on Brexit, BUT many right-wing Labour MP’s are pro-Single Market and pro-remain and portray a confused position. In addition the MSM are broadly anti-Corbyn and want to create an impression of confusion. The policy is in the 2017 Manifesto and the 6 red-lines have been presented many times. A simplistic electorate seems to think that if the Tories are for Brexit then Labour must be for Remain, whereas SNP, Greens & Neolib-Dems are pro – Remain, whereas Labour is trying a more united approach. You being a right-wing Labour tool does NOT help this!

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