The Force is with Theresa May in our big Brexit poll as 61 per cent want her to stay at No10 — and her rating’s up against Jeremy Corbyn
PM has received a boost in her battle against the Brexit rebel alliance ahead of Christmas
THERESA May has received a boost in her battle against the Brexit rebel alliance, a Sun on Sunday poll reveals.
The Premier has bounced back from a rollercoaster week to close the gap on Labour rival Jeremy Corbyn and strengthen her position.
Sixty-one per cent want the force to be with her at least until she has steered Britain out of the EU — compared to only 29 per cent who wanted her to stay on in August.
And surprisingly, six out of ten Tory voters now believe she should go all the way and stay on to lead their party into the next general election.
The embattled PM — who critics predicted would be gone by Christmas — was rocked last week when 11 of her MPs joined with Labour to defeat the Government in a House of Commons vote.
In an ICM poll conducted before that vote, more than half of voters — 54 per cent — said they believe she is the right person to win the best deal for Britain.
Nearly two thirds want her to remain as PM at least until the UK has left in March 2019, with 35 per cent of all voters egging her on to fight the next election.
The public also sends an emphatic message to EU-loving MPs slowing down the process with tedious Commons votes — telling them: “Just get on with it.”
Our poll reveals a huge majority of Brits want MPs to see it through and believe Mrs May is the best person to achieve that.
Most people, including Remainers, think she made good progress in the first round of talks.
Meanwhile, after the breakthrough on the first stage of Brexit, 66 per cent feel equally or more positive about leaving than they did before the referendum, which took place 18 months ago.
In a further boost for Mrs May, she has narrowed the gap on Mr Corbyn from 21 points two weeks ago to 13.
The poll also reveals widespread confusion over the Labour leader’s Brexit policy.
More than half of voters think he plans either to block our departure from the EU or stage a re-run of the in-out referendum.
A third of people, 33 per cent, believe he wants to keep Britain in the single market, while one in five are convinced he wants to stop Brexit and stay in the EU.
A further 13 per cent think Labour has promised a second referendum and 29 per cent haven’t a clue what the party’s position is.
Senior MPs believe Mrs May’s clear stand has given her the edge as she goes to war with EU chiefs — and rebels within her own party.
It is not all good news for Mrs May in our extensive poll.
The public favours Parliament being given a “meaningful vote” on the final divorce deal. And Labour enjoys a one-point lead over the Conservatives, who led by two in an ICM poll only a week ago.
But the PM will be relieved there is no obvious front-runner to replace her as leader.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is still favourite, but just 11 per cent say they’d be more likely to vote Conservative with him as leader. Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson is his nearest rival on six per cent.
But the public give some indication as to how Mrs May can improve the party’s fortunes.
There is moderate support for her to refresh her top team and bring new blood into her Cabinet.
Some 43 per cent want a reshuffle, with 24 per cent saying she should keep the existing line-up.
Leavers have also made clear their main reasons for voting to quit the EU. Most said they wanted Britain to have power to make its own laws. Cutting immigration came second, followed closely by escaping the drive towards a European federal superstate.
More than a third — 35 per cent — say the transition period after we leave should be limited to no more than two years. Twice as many people think the £38billion “divorce bill” is too high as those who think it is about right or too low.
But there is a strong feeling that the UK should pay its debts when we leave — irrespective of whether or not we get a deal.
The country is split down the middle over whether the March 2019 departure date, to be written into Brexit law, should be extended if the PM fails to clinch a deal.
Some 40 per cent say Yes, but 39 per cent are opposed and believe we should leave not a second later than then. But even those who are relaxed about meeting that deadline are fiercely opposed to an open-ended transition period.
Only 14 per cent believe we should maintain full links with the EU for more than a year. Seven per cent say that period is acceptable and 18 per cent insist it must be no more than six months.
EU chiefs have insisted that Britain stick by their rules — including freedom of movement and rulings of the European Court — during any transition phase.
We would also have to comply with European trade policy as a price for an extended stay inside the single market.
Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg warned the move would reduce the UK to a “vassal state” of the EU and wants the Prime Minister to reject them.
He said: “We cannot be a colony of the European Union for two years from 2019 to 2021, accepting new laws that are made without any say-so of the British people, Parliament or Government.
“That is not leaving the European Union, that is being a vassal state of the European Union and I would be very surprised if that were Government policy.”
The Sun on Sunday’s poll makes clear that most people believe that breaking free from those rules is the most important benefit the nation will get out of Brexit.
Some 29 per cent of people say taking back control of our own laws is the most important thing, while 21 per cent believe a cut in immigration by ending free movement is the number one advantage.
A fifth of voters — 20 per cent — will be glad to get away from what they see as a drive towards a European federal superstate run from Brussels.
A further 16 per cent are looking forward to Britain being able to decide for itself how to spend its own money.
Nine per cent believe we will be able to take advantage of better trade opportunities with the wider world once we have left.
But all the reasons for leaving have one common link. They each mean taking back control of our own destiny.
ICM research director Gregor Jackson said: “The EU deal negotiated by Theresa May appears to have strengthened her position, at least for the time being.
“However, danger lurks around the corner for the Prime Minister since the public feel the divorce bill is too high.
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“They support a meaningful vote for Parliament on the final deal and are split on whether the exit date should be extended in the event of a no deal.
“One thing is clear — 2018 is shaping up to be equally as momentous as 2017.”
- ICM Unlimited interviewed a representative sample of 2,004 adults aged 18+ online on December 12 to 14, 2017.
- Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.
- ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.