While 27% of respondents wanted a much closer relationship to rejoin and 22% wanted a closer relationship but to stay out of the block, 12% wanted to move further away from Europe. Of the 24% of respondents who approved the agreement, they did so with an important warning that it was the best agreement for the “foreseeable future”. About 15% of respondents said they do not know.
The survey, conducted in the week following the January 1 agreement, is the first major temperature check on what Brits thinks of the reality of Brexit. Although the UK formally left the EU on 31 March last year, the transitional arrangements ensured that little of the consequences changed until the end of December.
But since trade between Britain and Northern Ireland was disrupted, UK financial markets lost business for continental Europe and British exporters were forced to see fresh produce rot as new trade barriers could hinder European markets in a timely manner.
British sentiment towards Europe remains difficult to choose. In general, attitudes have eased over the past twelve months. While only a minority want to rejoin the bloc, a majority of respondents said they see the European Union as a more important international partner for the United Kingdom than the United States.
And although many younger, metropolitan voters are more pro-European than older voters, the report notes that more than a quarter of respondents who voted to leave the EU describe themselves as ‘European’.
The survey, conducted on behalf of BFPG by poller Opinium, asked 2,002 British citizens ranging from what they think of Johnson’s Brexit deal to how much they really care about the so-called ‘special relationship’ with the United States.
Most respondents were generally positive that the UK should be active on the world stage, mainly in the areas that, according to Johnson, are a priority for his government. Johnson has made it clear that he wants to use his presidency of the G7 this year, as well as the UK’s position as host to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, to make a statement on Britain’s post-Brexit commitment to the international order.
This is uncomfortable for Johnson, and the report also reveals challenges to his “global Britain” agenda among British voters. The prime minister has long argued that one benefit of Brexit is the freedom to pursue independent foreign policy in trade, environmental issues, national security, normal leadership and foreign aid.
Indeed, a majority believes that British spending on foreign policy should be maintained or increased, support a multilateral approach to climate change and would like to see Britain show moral leadership.
But as far as international relations are concerned, Johnson does not shoot a clear endorsement: 49% of respondents said they did not trust the UK government on foreign policy, compared to 39% who did. About 12% did not know. It may also frighten Johnson to find that the voters he praises from other parties to achieve their victory in 2019 – with his promise to ‘get Brexit done’ – are the most isolating.
However, she adds: ‘I am optimistic that a one-off project to bring the country together around a common vision for the role of the UK in the world can succeed, but it will be a hard blow to this ambition. to realize. . “
It is perhaps not surprising that the report paints the picture of a nation that has achieved the most important shift in its domestic and foreign agenda for decades, and is not sure what the next steps should be. And for many people, this will confirm the view that the 2016 vote to leave the EU has created a new divide in British politics that can be bridged in some way.