New polling by Savanta shows voters now believe by a factor of more than 2:1 that in 2016 the leave campaign told more lies than truths about the impact of Brexit. The extensive weighted online survey involving 2,265 adults was carried out between 24 and 26 February 2023.
Which side lied more during the Brexit referendum?
Asked which side told the truth more, or lied more, during the EU referendum, 54% said the leave campaign told more lies against 22% who thought they told more truths (71% to 29% excluding don’t knows). The same question about the remain campaign found 38% believed they were more truthful while 36% thought they lied more (51% to 49% excluding don’t know).
Again excluding those without an opinion, nearly 72% of respondents thought Boris Johnson personally told more lies than the truth compared to 28% who believed otherwise.
Even among the 65+ age group, 64% thought the leave campaign lied more compared to 36% who did not. The older cohort also believed remain told lies but only by 52% to 48%. Yet they were more likely in a future referendum to vote to stay out of the EU by 58% to 42%.
The poll asked a whole range of questions which reveal the public’s evolving thoughts on Brexit with some surprising findings.
Should the UK rejoin the EU?
Asked if there was a referendum tomorrow on whether the UK should or should not join the EU tomorrow with the question, ‘Should the United Kingdom become a member of the European Union or not become a member of the European Union?’, overall 56% said they would vote to rejoin against 44% who thought we should stay out (excluding don’t knows). In Northern Ireland the figures rose to 68% wanting to rejoin immediately.
Ten out of the 12 UK regions, all except Wales and the South West, would now vote to rejoin the EU. And every age group except those over 55 would do the same.
In answer to when another referendum should be held, 62% thought that should take place within 20 years, with 24% wanting a second vote now, 21% in the next five years, 11% in six to ten years and 6% in 11-20 years. Only 22% thought there should never be another referendum.
The results back up data published by Unherd last month using information supplied by another polling company, Focaldata, which showed 647 out of the UK’s 650 constituencies now think it was wrong for Britain to leave the EU.
A tweet by John Longworth, an ardent Brexiter showing the results of the referendum seven years ago, only serves to highlight the huge swing in public attitudes to Brexit.
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