New Poll: Voters of all parties ready for an EU revolt

On the eve of the European Election, a new ICM/TaxPayers' Alliance landscape poll on attitudes to the European Union has revealed that voters of all political allegiances, all social classes and all regions are overwhelmingly in support of radical direct action by the British Government against harmful EU policies - saying that Britain should break EU rules and then refuse to pay any consequent fines.
 
The poll, of 1,002 adults, also reveals a wider dissatisfaction with the European Union and a radical majority against the Euro, the Lisbon Treaty and further integration, and in support of removing powers from the EU. The financial crisis and the recession have made the British people far more eurosceptic.
 
There are serious connotations for the main political parties, too. Amongst Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat voters a large majority of each parties' supporters feel that none of the main parties adequately represent their views on Britain's future relationship on the EU. Given that the public are so radical in their opposition to so many areas of EU integration and EU policy, this suggests that the political parties are lagging severely behind the public's advanced euroscepticism.
 
Key Findings

• People are so annoyed by EU rules that 69% want the British Government to start breaking them and disobeying Brussels. Only 28% of people believe Britain should obey EU rules. A majority of Conservatives (78%), Labour supporters (65%), Liberal Democrats (59%) and Others (70%) support disobedience. The policy has overwhelming support across every social class and region of the UK.

• Furthermore, a strong majority believe Britain should refuse to pay any EU fines imposed for breaking those rules - by 60% to 30%. Again, Conservatives (62%), Labour (54%), Liberal Democrats (51%) and Others (69%) are all in support of refusing to pay the fines.

• A clear majority are also in favour of Britain unilaterally taking back powers from Brussels if the EU or the other member states refused to give us permission to do so - by 57% to 37%. While Conservatives (63%), Lib Dems (51%) and Others (73%) all think that unilateral action is justified, only Labour's supporters believe we should abide by an EU decision to refuse us the right to renegotiate our relationship - and then only by 49% to 45%.

• On the Lisbon Treaty, voters are similarly resolute. 75% of people believe that any decision to give more powers to the EU must always be put to a referendum, while only 23% believe such decisions should be taken by MPs. Support for referenda is in the majority across all parties: Conservative (81%), Labour (69%), Liberal Democrat (68%), Other (80%). In a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the Treaty would be rejected by a majority of 62% to 28%. Despite Labour and Liberal Democrat official policy being in favour of the Treaty, their supporters would also be voting against it - by a margin of 50% to 42% in the case of Liberal Democrats and 46% to 43% amongst Labour voters.

• Public opposition to the Euro is found to be the strongest since 1995, and the recession has made people more opposed to giving up Sterling. In a referendum, the Euro would be resoundingly rejected by 75% to 23%. Even supporters of the Liberal Democrats, the only party among the main three to openly support joining the Euro, would vote to keep the Pound by 58% to 40%. When asked what impact the recession has had on their views on the Euro, 29% said that it had made them more opposed to joining whilst 14% said it had made them more in favour.

• As well as boosting opposition to the Euro, the financial crisis and recession have led the public to conclude that Britain needs a fundamentally different relationship with the EU, including control of our own trade and economic policy. Only 28% of the public believe that Britain would be better off in the economic crisis as a fully integrated EU member with the Euro and the Lisbon Treaty. By contrast, 67% believe the economic crisis demonstrates the need for Britain to take back control of trade and economic policies.

To download the full write-up of the poll, click here.

To download the full poll results, click here.

Matthew Elliott, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:

"Our polling shows that people are more Eurosceptic than ever - they are ready for an EU revolt. Voters are sick of the huge cost of the EU's wasteful policies and corrupt institutions, and want to see the British Government stand up to Brussels for once. Our politicians should start fighting the taxpayers' corner by breaking the EU's absurd rules and refusing to pay any fines they throw at us. Instead of trying to force through a Treaty that no-one wants, the Government should be taking back powers and telling the EU to stop its costly meddling."

To download the full write-up of the poll, click here.

To download the full poll results, click here.

Comments

[Hawkeye]

Matthew Elliot said: "Voters are sick of the huge cost of the EU's wasteful policies and corrupt institutions, and want to see the British Government stand up to Brussels for once"

That sums up my position perfectly, but who do I vote for on June 4th? UKIP? Libertas? Who will remove the ghastly EU from us. Who will set us free?

[Jen Cook]

Thank you for continuing to draw attention to this issue.

We could reduce our borrowing by a sizeable chunk and restore some sanity to our laws by withdrawing funding from the EU and refusing to comply with its rules.

Sadly, Cameron still refuses to budge. He will feel the sting of the electorate's tail on June 5th, after votes have been counted.

Are we certain that there is no possibility of electoral fraud occurring? What safeguards are in place? Can the TPA apply to be election monitors? Can postal voting be monitored by independent bodies/individuals?