Half say the government is doing a bad job at handling Britain's exit from the EU

Half say the government is doing a bad job at handling Britain’s exit from the EU

Public are spilt on what role parliament should have during Brexit negotiations

Weeks after the High Court’s decision requiring the government to receive parliamentary approval before Article 50 is triggered, Ipsos’s new Political Monitor reveals the public are split when it comes to what role parliament should take when initiating the start to Britain’s exit from the European Union. Even so, Britons are on balance critical of the government’s handling of Brexit.

Forty-four percent believe that parliament’s role should be to only vote on triggering Article 50, while 37% think that parliament should have a further role telling the government what terms Britain’s future relationship with the EU should be. Opinion is largely divided along those groups who either voted for Leave or Remain. Three in five (61%) Conservative supporters believe parliament should only vote on triggering Article 50 compared with three in five Labour supporters (60%) and 53% Lib Dem supporters who want parliament to have more of a role setting the terms of the negotiations. Half (51%) of those without a qualification also want parliament to just vote on triggering Article 50, while half (51%) of graduates want parliament to determine the terms of Britain’s future relationship with the EU.

Meanwhile, almost half of the public (48%) believe the government is doing a bad job at handling Britain’s exit from the European Union, with 37% saying it is doing a good job. Again opinion is divided along familiar lines. Conservatives and older people are most positive (53% and 44% of over 55s respectively think the government is doing a good job) while younger and Labour voters are most critical (60% of 18-34s and 65% of Labour voters think it is doing a bad job).

 

It’s not all gloom for the Prime Minister however as there is little sign her personal honeymoon is coming to an end. More than half (54%, up six from last month) of Britons are satisfied with her doing her job as Prime Minister while three in ten (30%) say they are dissatisfied – leaving her with a net satisfaction score of +24. This compares with three in ten (28%, down three) satisfied with Jeremy Corbyn and 57% dissatisfied – leaving him a net score of -29. Tim Farron however is yet to make headway with the public with 23% saying they are satisfied with him and 36% dissatisfied (leaving a net score of -13), yet 41% say they don’t know.

Theresa May also enjoys strong satisfaction ratings from her own party supporters. Almost nine in ten (87%) of Conservative supporters are satisfied in Ms May and just 4% are dissatisfied. Jeremy Corbyn does not hit such heights amongst his party with 47% Labour voters satisfied with him and 41% dissatisfied.

Our ongoing vote intention figures show the Conservatives maintaining a clear lead over the Labour party. Figures show the Conservatives on 42%, Labour on 33%, the Liberal Democrats on 10% and UKIP on 7%.

 

Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research at Ipsos, said:

“Theresa May’s honeymoon over Labour continues, but that isn’t stopping the public being critical of her government’s handling of Brexit. And with deep divisions in society continuing on Britain’s relationship with Europe, it’s not going to get any easier for her.”

• Download the survey topline (PDF)
• Download the computer tables (PDF)
• Download the charts (PDF)

Technical note

Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,013 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. Interviews were conducted by telephone 11th – 14th November 2016. Data are weighted to the profile of the population.