Express & Star

Brexit poll: Staffordshire and Black Country MPs surprised by result

Uncertainty over Brexit is behind the shift towards a 'remain' vote according to several of the region's MPs – with one eurosceptic blaming the continuation of 'project fear'.

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Bill Cash, one of the most vocal eurosceptics in the House of Commons, hit out at elements of the remain camp and broadcast media in light of the results of our survey.

The Tory MP for Stone said: "The results here show the continuation of project fear, which is not reflected by the facts.

"Project fear was a massive lie and Armageddon has not happened.

"The reality is the investment prospects for the UK have dramatically increased as shown by JLR signalling thousands of jobs in our area.

"It seems to me people are being seriously misled, in part by elements of the broadcast media.

"The public's democracy is a precious treasure they will lose under the EU, which is dysfunctional and imploding."

Several of the region's MPs who backed the 'remain' campaign ahead of the referendum in June stated their surprise at the extent of the change in opinion.

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How readers voted in our recent poll

David Winnick, Labour MP for Walsall North, said: "I think there will have been a shift in public opinion but I have my doubts as to whether it will be as significant as the results seem to suggest.

"Nevertheless, it is something which should be taken into account – not that Article 50 should not be implemented to leave the EU – but what it does mean is there will be quite a lot of close attention by the people of Walsall and the wider region on what will emerge from negotiations.

"The one word which really sums up what we can take from the results is 'uncertainty'.

"Uncertainty over whether the government will actually be serious about leaving the EU and, if we do leave, what will be the result."

Adrian Bailey, Labour MP for West Bromwich West, added: "The scale of the change in opinion is surprising although I would expect there to be some shift when the realities of negotiating our way out of the EU came to sink in and the implications on everyone's standards of living.

"The survey is showing a dramatic change of opinion but at the end of the day the only poll that really matters was the EU referendum itself and we have got to respect that."

Pat McFadden

Wolverhampton South East MP, Pat McFadden, said the results of the survey highlight that the government must be scrutinised as it negotiates the UK's exit from the EU.

The former Shadow Minister for Europe said: "I am surprised by the result because although the public voted to leave in June we haven't left yet so the effect of Brexit hasn't taken hold, apart from the most obvious which is the sharp fall in the value of the pound.

"As a local MP the lesson I draw from the result is that there is still a really important job to do to ask the government what the future holds for us outside the EU in terms of trade, investment, jobs and many other issues."

Mike Wood, Conservative MP for Dudley South, supported Brexit and said he had seen no evidence of any significant change in mood since the summer, despite the result of our survey.

He added: "I am not surprised that people said they are not happy with the handling of the Brexit process.

"Those nearly half of people nationally who would have rather the vote went the other way are obviously unhappy about anything towards Brexit, and some of those who voted to leave would rather it be done more quickly.

"The important thing is to get it right and without unnecessary delay."

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