"Britain Out" - new poll findings put politicians on the spot over EU

If politicians thought they could evade the issue of Europe in the run up to the election, a new nationwide MORI* poll could make them think again.

Carried out on behalf of the British Democracy Campaign, the MORI poll interviewed over 1,800 adults across Britain between 15 and 21 March 2001.

More people wanted to come out of Europe than to stay in. Of those who expressed an opinion, 52% were in favour of leaving the EU right now. 71% of those interviewed wanted a referendum on Britain's continued membership of the EU and 75% believed that the British people have not been given enough information about the arguments for or against membership.

Championing the British Democracy Campaign is Yorkshire businessman Paul Sykes, a long-time campaigner against Britain's continued membership of the EU and supporter of a democratic referendum. He says, "The people have spoken. They clearly want a say on the future of our involvement in the EU. Over half the electorate, that's 23 million people, have never had a say on this issue and neither of the 2 main political parties are even acknowledging this."

The findings of the MORI poll will feature in a major advertising campaign now being rolled out across the UK and running before, during and after the General Election. The campaign will build a huge database of people in favour of a referendum and this information from each constituency will then be sent to individual MPs. The MP's response to their constituents' requests for a referendum will be published in the national and local press.

"MP's are answerable to the people who elected them and it is only fair that those people know where their MP stands on this, the major issue of our age," says Sykes.

The MORI results are reinforced by the findings of a separate NOP** poll which showed that 61% of voters believe that holding a referendum on EU membership is as important as holding a General Election.

"Our surveys have shown that the people of Britain are waking up to the fact that more and more decisions that rule their lives come from Brussels," Sykes continues. "The vast majority of British people are now appealing for more information and a referendum on our membership of the EU. It cannot be right to continue further with this project without seeking permission from the people."

* MORI interviewed 1,805 British adults aged 18+ between 15 - 21 March 2001. Interviews were conducted face-to-face, in respondents' homes, in 188 sampling points across Great Britain.

**NOP Solutions carried out a survey of 1,042 adults aged 18+ between 22 - 27 March 2001. Interviews were carried out in-home, face-to-face and the sample was designed to be representative of all adults in Great Britain.

Final Results

Q1 Would you personally like to see a referendum held to decide on whether Britain should stay in or get out of the European Union?

Q2 If there were a referendum now on whether Britain should stay in or get out of the European Union, how would you vote?

Base: All

Q2 If there were a referendum now on whether Britain should stay in or get out of the European Union, how would you vote?

Base: All expressing an opinion

Q3 If there were a referendum on whether Britain should stay in or get out of the European Union, and Britain was assured of a free trade-unions agreement if it did leave, how would you vote?

Q4 How much information do you feel you have received about the arguments for and against Britain's membership of the European Union?

Technical details

MORI interviewed 1,805 British adults aged 18+ Interviews were conducted face-to-face, in respondents' homes, in 188 sampling points across Great Britain. Fieldwork took place between 15 - 21 March 2001 Results are based on all respondents unless otherwise stated. Data are weighted to known population profile An '*' indicates a finding of less than 0.5%, but greater than zero Poll conducted by MORI on behalf of CWG