This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/may/27/voters-david-cameron-eu-negotiation-poll
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Voters back David Cameron's EU renegotiation strategy, poll suggests | Voters back David Cameron's EU renegotiation strategy, poll suggests |
| (1 day later) | |
| David Cameron's strategy of renegotiating Britain's relationship with the EU is supported by most voters, with the prime minister seen as the best UK political leader to conduct the talks, according to a poll conducted for the Open Europe thinktank. | David Cameron's strategy of renegotiating Britain's relationship with the EU is supported by most voters, with the prime minister seen as the best UK political leader to conduct the talks, according to a poll conducted for the Open Europe thinktank. |
| The poll also shows that only 61% of Ukip voters want Britain to leave the EU completely, confirming that much of the party's support is not based on its European policies. The responses, compiled by polling company ComRes, suggest Ukip will come top in next May's European parliamentary elections, but that Cameron is still seen as the most trusted figure to negotiate a new deal with the EU. | The poll also shows that only 61% of Ukip voters want Britain to leave the EU completely, confirming that much of the party's support is not based on its European policies. The responses, compiled by polling company ComRes, suggest Ukip will come top in next May's European parliamentary elections, but that Cameron is still seen as the most trusted figure to negotiate a new deal with the EU. |
| Just under a third (29%) say Cameron would be most likely to succeed in negotiating a better deal for Britain in Europe, followed by Labour's Ed Miliband (14%), Ukip's Nigel Farage (12%) and the Liberal Democrats' Nick Clegg (4%). Among party leaders' own voters, Cameron enjoys by far the greatest confidence (80%), while only 25% of Lib Dem voters think Clegg is the most likely to succeed. | Just under a third (29%) say Cameron would be most likely to succeed in negotiating a better deal for Britain in Europe, followed by Labour's Ed Miliband (14%), Ukip's Nigel Farage (12%) and the Liberal Democrats' Nick Clegg (4%). Among party leaders' own voters, Cameron enjoys by far the greatest confidence (80%), while only 25% of Lib Dem voters think Clegg is the most likely to succeed. |
| However, 20% of the British public say that none of the party leaders listed would be likely to succeed in negotiating a better deal for Britain, while another 20% say they do not know which leader would be most successful. | However, 20% of the British public say that none of the party leaders listed would be likely to succeed in negotiating a better deal for Britain, while another 20% say they do not know which leader would be most successful. |
| If a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU were held now, the poll suggests 37% of the electorate would vote to remain in, compared with 41% who would back an exit. But if there were a significant return of powers to Westminster followed by a referendum, 47% would vote to stay, while 32% would vote to leave. | If a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU were held now, the poll suggests 37% of the electorate would vote to remain in, compared with 41% who would back an exit. But if there were a significant return of powers to Westminster followed by a referendum, 47% would vote to stay, while 32% would vote to leave. |
| The most favoured option, with 38% support, is a renegotiation to remain an EU member but outside the eurozone. By contrast one in four (26%) say Britain should withdraw from the EU completely. Almost one-fifth (18%) would like to maintain the current relationship, while 6% would prefer closer integration, with Britain adopting the single currency. | |
| More than half (55%) of the British public believe the priority in any renegotiation should be an independent UK immigration policy, something that would be very difficult to secure since free movement of labour is central to the single market. Other areas of priority include giving Westminster more powers to block unwanted EU laws (42%), reducing Britain's contribution to the EU budget (36%) and allowing the UK to have sole control over police and criminal justice laws (32%). | More than half (55%) of the British public believe the priority in any renegotiation should be an independent UK immigration policy, something that would be very difficult to secure since free movement of labour is central to the single market. Other areas of priority include giving Westminster more powers to block unwanted EU laws (42%), reducing Britain's contribution to the EU budget (36%) and allowing the UK to have sole control over police and criminal justice laws (32%). |
| Among those British adults certain to vote in the European elections Ukip would come first (27%) and Labour second (23%). The Conservatives would come third with 21%. Almost two-fifths (39%) of those who voted Tory in the 2009 European elections would back Ukip if the poll were held tomorrow – suggesting Cameron may be doing the right thing in seeking to underline how he would renegotiate Britain's relationship. | Among those British adults certain to vote in the European elections Ukip would come first (27%) and Labour second (23%). The Conservatives would come third with 21%. Almost two-fifths (39%) of those who voted Tory in the 2009 European elections would back Ukip if the poll were held tomorrow – suggesting Cameron may be doing the right thing in seeking to underline how he would renegotiate Britain's relationship. |
| Open Europe's director, Mats Persson, said: "Whilst the Conservatives may be heading for a perfect storm in the EU elections, their overarching goal of a renegotiated position for the UK in the EU still enjoys substantial support from across the political spectrum. | Open Europe's director, Mats Persson, said: "Whilst the Conservatives may be heading for a perfect storm in the EU elections, their overarching goal of a renegotiated position for the UK in the EU still enjoys substantial support from across the political spectrum. |
| "Most voters would clearly prefer to stay in the EU, but on new membership terms, over withdrawing altogether. However, unless a new relationship can be negotiated, the UK electorate could well vote to leave the EU – which should also be a wake-up call for Labour and Lib Dems." | "Most voters would clearly prefer to stay in the EU, but on new membership terms, over withdrawing altogether. However, unless a new relationship can be negotiated, the UK electorate could well vote to leave the EU – which should also be a wake-up call for Labour and Lib Dems." |
| • ComRes interviewed 2,003 adults online between 22 and 24 May. The data was weighted to be representative of British citizens aged 18 and over. | • ComRes interviewed 2,003 adults online between 22 and 24 May. The data was weighted to be representative of British citizens aged 18 and over. |
| • This article was amended on 28 May 2013. The original said that almost two-fifths (18%) would like to maintain the current relationship with the EU. That has been corrected to almost one-fifth. |