Yahoo News Brexit: New poll shows dismal level of support for Theresa May's Chequers proposals
Theresa May’s Chequers proposals have been shot down by a number of MPs on both Brexit and Remain sides – and it seems voters are also turned off.
The Government’s official blueprint for Brexit has the support of just 9% of people, according to a new poll by Survation.
Asked what their preferred Brexit deal would be, only 9% of people chose the Chequers deal, placing it bottom of the list, while a ‘Canada-style’ deal was supported by 36% of people.
UK, Survation poll:
Preferred Brexit deal:
“Canada style”: 36%
No Deal: 19%
Customs Union: 19%
“Norway style”: 15%
Chequers Agreement: 9%Field work: 07/09/18
Sample size: 1,039— Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) September 12, 2018
The survey of 1,039 Brits found that a no-deal Brexit was reasonably popular with voters, with a fifth choosing it as their preference, despite myriad warnings about the dangers associated with leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
The same number of respondents said they would opt to stay in the Customs Union.
The poor showing for Chequers will ring alarm bells in Number 10, who are facing a possible plot to oust Mrs May unless she changes course.
Around 50 Conservative MPs are understood to have attended a meeting on Tuesday of the pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG) where a possible leadership challenge was said to have been discussed.
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However, ERG chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg insisted he was seeking a change of Government policy, not a change in leadership.
He said: ‘I have long said, and repeated again and again, that the policy needs to be changed but I am supporting the person.’
His comments were echoed by former Brexit secretary David Davis, who quit the Government over the Chequers plan which would see Britain maintain a ‘common rule book’ with the EU for trade in goods and agriculture.
He said: ‘I disagree with her on one issue – this issue. She should stay in place because we need stability and we need decent government as the backdrop to what we are doing in the coming six months.’
Tory backbencher Michael Fabricant – who was at the meeting – also played down the prospect of a challenge.
He tweeted: ‘Reports of Theresa May’s demise are greatly exaggerated. Of the 40-50 there, only five to six people discussed letters to the chairman of the 1922 and they wrote ages ago.
‘The rest of us sat in uncomfortable silence. Though most are unhappy with Chequers.’
