Sky Data poll: 53% of British public want second EU referendum

Most of the British public want a second EU referendum, according to a Sky Data poll.

More than half of Britons (53%) would support holding a referendum asking between Brexit on the terms of the draft deal negotiated by the government, Brexit without a deal or remaining in the EU, while 36% would oppose it.

Those figures are effectively unchanged since Theresa May first published the draft deal a month ago.

But remarkably, a similarly narrow majority of 51% also agree with the prime minister's argument that holding another Brexit referendum would break faith with the British people - 42% think it would not, while 7% are unsure.

Those who would prefer to leave the EU - either with the government's deal or no deal - are united in agreement that a referendum would be a breach of faith, with nine in 10 saying the prime minister is right.

More than one in five of those who support holding a new referendum (22%) also think that holding one would break faith with the British people - but still think a referendum should go ahead.

In a new referendum, the majority say they would vote to stay in the EU - 53% would vote for no Brexit, 32% for Brexit without a deal, and 16% for Brexit on the terms negotiated by Theresa May (according to figures rounded to the closest per cent).

Three in 10 of those who would prefer a Brexit on the government's proposed terms (28%) and 19% of people who would prefer a no deal Brexit would support a new referendum.

This despite the vast majority of them saying it would break faith with the people.

Meanwhile, 80% of people who would prefer to remain in the EU said they would support a new referendum.

Head of Sky Data Harry Carr said: "As with many aspects of Brexit, public opinion on holding a new referendum is complicated - and sometimes contradictory.

"Most people agree with the prime minister that a new Brexit referendum would be a breach of faith - but given the options available, the majority also still think it is the right thing to do.

"Parliament is faced with an electorate that thinks holding a referendum is necessary, but will hold them in contempt if they do so."