Reducing immigration NOT among public’s top priorities for Brexit deal says shock poll

AFP

Theresa May has vowed to take back control of Britain's borders

Voters want the PM to focus on ensuring that better paid jobs, more money for public services and boosting human rights at home are the main benefits of the decision to leave the European Union.

According to a survey published by the Common Vision think tank reducing current levels of net migration are not a high priority amongst any age group, even the over 55s who voted predominantly for Brexit.

However, it also shows that being able to trade freely with non-EU countries is a very popular concept across the board – something which is not possible on the UK's terms whilst it is a member of the Brussels bloc.

The results were released after Theresa May used a landmark speech to announce that Britain will be leaving the single market and European Court of Justice in order to take back control of its borders.

The opinion poll, carried out by the research firm Opinium, contains a number of surprising conclusions about what all parts of society want to see from the upcoming Brexit talks.

Participants were split into three age groups – 18-34, 35s-54 and 55+ – and asked to rate a number of subject areas from one to 10 in terms of "how important they are in determining the UK's future outside the EU".

NC

Immigration is a low priority amongst all the age groups polled

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Most of those polled do not have confidence in Theresa May's plan for Brexit

Surprisingly it shows that the top priority across all ages is ensuring that Britain's public services are well-funded, a theme which was a much-publicised and controversial aspect of the Vote Leave campaign.

The three age groups all also agree that boosting jobs, protecting human rights at home, ensuring work is better paid and providing better educational opportunities are all key to the UK's future post-Brexit.

But other issues which have been highly debated in the media, and would therefore be expected to feature prominently in people's minds, appear to be less important to them.

In particular the whole issue of immigration and free movements, both in terms of people coming to the UK and Britons travelling abroad, is of low concern amongst all those polled.

None of the age groups, including young people, attaches great importance to ensuring that EU citizens are able to stay in Britain after the country leaves the EU.

Nor do they prioritise retaining British citizens' rights to travel around the EU under free movement rules – an argument Nicola Sturgeon has used to try and keep Scotland in the single market.

But perhaps most surprising is how low on the participants' radars the issue of reducing immigration appears, given that it was a central and hotly contested part of the referendum debate.

Toughening up border controls is predictably the bottom priority for those in the 18-34 range. But much more eye-openingly is is only the 13th most important issue for the over 55s out of 22 topics put to them.

The poll will also pose tough questions for Theresa May over her approach to Brexit, with the results revealing that just under half of the population are not confident about her negotiating tactics, compared to a third who approve.

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It was produced for Common Vision to highlight the launch of its new project, Brexit Watch, which will cover Britain's exit from the European Union from the perspective of young people – so-called 'millennials'.

Think tank director Caroline Macfarland said: "Brexit Watch ultimately aims to rebalance levels of political participation between the generations."

Mrs May is expected discuss the possibility of a trade deal between the US and the UK when she travels to Washington DC on Thursday to become the first foreign leader to meet new US President Donald Trump.

Agreements are also in the pipeline with other parts of the Anglosphere, including Australia and New Zealand, as the Government promises to pursue a 'Global Britain' approach to trade after the country leaves the EU.

Opinium interviewed 2,007 UK adults online between January 13 and 17 this year.

Original Article