Express & Star

Why have Express & Star readers changed their minds on Brexit?

Why have Express & Star readers changed their minds?

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That is the question we are now asking after our latest survey on Brexit showed that 62 per of people taking part said they would back staying in the EU if there was a vote now.

It compares to 59 per cent of people in the West Midlands who voted to leave in June's referendum. But it marks a giant shift from March when our pre-referendum poll revealed that 80 per cent of people intended to vote for leave and cited Boris Johnson as being the most influential figure.

This time round we asked readers how they would vote if the EU referendum was held now.

  • MORE: Shock poll reveals Express & Star readers have changed minds on Brexit

  • MORE: Staffordshire and Black Country MPs surprised by result

How readers voted in March 2016

We also asked their opinions on whether they were happy with how the Brexit process was being handled by Theresa May's government and whether they believed Britain will have left the EU by April 2017.

Mrs May intends to trigger Article 50 – the official mechanism of leaving the EU – at the end of March next year.

That will start a two-year period of negotiations meaning Britain should have left the union by April 1, 2019.

An incredible 9,948 people took part in our survey that ran from Monday until Wednesday.

Seventy-eight of the responses were via the post while the rest took part online at Expressandstar.com.

How readers voted in our recent poll

While there was a split on how people would vote in a referendum now – 62 per cent for remaining, 37 per cent for leaving, and one per cent who would not vote – there was widespread agreement that Brexit was not being handled well.

A staggering 86 per cent of people said they were not satisfied with the handling of Brexit with just 14 per cent saying they were happy with it.

The Express & Star front page on June 23 - the day of the referendum

UKIP MEP and Dudley councillor Bill Etheridge concurred he said: "One thing people on all sides of the debate can agree on is that this government is making a hash of Brexit.

"It has been absolutely useless. They are hesitant, and had no plan of what they are going to do.

"Mrs May and her government are making this country look weak.

"We wanted Article 50 triggered straight away but now I think the best thing to do would be to repeal the European Communities Act and get us out of the EU now."

Mr Etheridge, now UKIP's defence spokesman in leader Paul Nuttall's new look top team, said he wasn't surprised by the result in the E&S survey but said he didn't think it reflected reality in the Black Country and Staffordshire.

He said: "Unfortunately I think Remain voters have taken advantage of the Express & Star's really good idea and have abused it for their own means.

"I was born in this region, I live here, and speak to people every day. I can tell you that the belief in Brexit is stronger than ever but people want Theresa May and the Government to get on with it. People in the Black Country are tough and do not change their minds on a whim.

"Bitter people who voted Remain and cannot accept the result are clearly doing all they can to scupper Brexit."

Our referendum result special after David Cameron's resignation

Our original poll in March captured national attention and was backed by high ranking politicians from both sides of the debate, including now-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, now-Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and Labour's then-shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham.

At the time it was the first newspaper survey to reveal that its region was planning of voting to leave the EU. And it was proved correct on a dramatic morning on June 24 as results dripped through in the early hours showing the region – and the country – had voted for Brexit.

Interestingly, 52 per cent of voters believe MPs should back the views of their constituents if another Commons vote is held on Brexit.

A majority of MPs in the Black Country and Staffordshire backed remaining in the EU with just three out of 19 known to have supported the vote to leave.

The region was one of the most fascinating to watch on vote night with views ranging from the veteran Eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash in Stone to passionate Remainers such as Pat McFadden and Emma Reynolds in Labour.

Mr Fadden and Ms Reynolds will play an important role holding the Government to account as we leave the EU, sitting on the Brexit select committee with Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy.

Ms Reynolds, the Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East said: "There is a real risk that the Government's mishandling of the negotiations will deliver a bad Brexit that damages the economy, leads to fewer jobs and hits people's living standards. That is not what people voted for.

"The Government must get its act together and ensure that the promises made by the Leave campaign are kept."

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