Britons want looser ties with EU

Last Modified: 08 Jun 2008
Source: PA News

A clear majority of British voters would back a looser relationship with the European Union in a referendum, according to a new poll.

Some 41% of those questioned said they would like Britain's relationship with the EU to be based on trade and co-operation, while opting out of political and economic union, compared with 27% who want the UK to remain a full EU member and 26% who favour withdrawal.

And when asked how they would vote in a referendum, 64% said they would back a renegotiated looser relationship, against 26% who would oppose it.

However, only 36% of those supporting the change thought there was a good chance of achieving it, with many saying that no British Government would ever enter the required negotiations or that other EU nations would not agree a new arrangement for the UK.

Some 57% said the UK should leave the EU if other European nations blocked an attempt to renegotiate its membership.

Support for the change was evenly spread across the political spectrum, with 71% of supporters of each of the big three political parties saying they would back the change in a referendum.

The poll for the group Global Vision, which campaigns for a looser relationship with the EU, comes ahead of a crucial week for the process of European integration.

Ireland votes on Thursday on the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which is also subject to a High Court challenge in London tomorrow and a vote in the House of Lords on Wednesday.

Global Vision director Ruth Lea said: "A looser relationship with the EU based on trade and cooperation, rather the full political and economic integration, is consistently the option of choice for the British people."

ICM Research interviewed 1,010 adults in the UK for Global Vision on March 26 and 27, and a total of 3,090 adults in Poland, France and Germany between April 7 and 15.

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