ITV News Index

The latest ITV News Index, published on 24 October 2011.

 

Date Published: 23 Oct 2011

Categories: Energy | Europe | Media | Politics | Public and communities | Technology & Telecoms

Description

COMRES/ ITV NEWS POLL: TWO THIRDS OF PUBLIC SUPPORT EU REFERENDUM ON WHETHER UK REMAINS A MEMBER

The latest Index poll results, conducted by ComRes and to be broadcast on ITV News at Ten tonight, reveal that a majority of the public are pessimistic about Britain’s relationship with the EU – furthermore, two thirds of the British public (68%) support the idea of a referendum on whether or not the UK remains a member of the EU. 16% disagree and 16% are not sure.

More than half (54%) believe that Britain’s membership of the EU has been a costly mistake, with just one in four people (23%) agreeing that overall, Britain’s membership of the EU has delivered more benefits than disadvantages to Britain. Again, more than half, 51% of those polled, disagree.

Poll results indicate that while opinions are split about a full withdrawal from the EU – 37% agree, 37% disagree and 26% are not sure – 41% would vote to renegotiate our relationship with the EU, rather than full withdrawal. One in three, 33%, would not vote for a renegotiation.

Finally, more than half of the public (54%) agree that they would support withdrawing from the EU if renegotiating our relationship with the EU was not possible. One in five (20%) disagree with this sentiment and one in four (26%) remain unsure.
 

Methodology: ComRes interviewed 2001 GB adults online between 21st and 23rd October 2011.  Data were weighted to be demographically representative of all GB adults.  ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.