World

UK public more confident about the EU than the government, survey finds

  • 30. Mar 2023. 20:26
  • By The EU Times
Latest Articles
COP28: 7 food and agriculture innovations needed to protect the climate and feed a rapidly growing world Santos, now booted from the House, got elected as a master of duplicity — here’s how it worked Colonized countries rarely ask for redress over past wrongs − the reasons can be complex Artificial wombs could someday be a reality – here’s how they may change our notions of parenthood Turmoil at OpenAI shows we must address whether AI developers can regulate themselves Who is still getting HIV in America? Medication is only half the fight – homing in on disparities can help get care to those who need it most Electric arc furnaces: the technology poised to make British steelmaking more sustainable Sustainability schemes deployed by business most often ineffective, research reveals Destruction of Ukrainian heritage: why losing historical icons can leave a long shadow These programs make college possible for students with developmental disabilities

A new survey has revealed that the British public is more confident about the European Union (EU) than the government.

The research, conducted by the London-based thinktank British Future, found that the British public is more likely to support the EU than the government, with 65 percent of respondents saying they back the bloc. This compares to just 30 percent of respondents who said they back the government's stance on the EU.

The survey also found that younger people were more likely to support the EU than the government. Among 18-24 year olds, 81 percent of respondents said they backed the EU, compared to only 26 percent who said they supported the government's stance.

The survey highlights the growing gap between the public and the government on the issue of the EU. It comes ahead of May's European Parliament elections, which will be the first to take place since the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016.

Commenting on the survey, British Future's director Sunder Katwala said: “The survey shows that the UK public is far more confident about the EU than the government's position. It also shows that younger people are particularly pro-EU and this could have implications for how they will vote in the upcoming European elections.”

The survey also found that the public is divided over the government's handling of Brexit negotiations. While 36 percent of respondents said they approved of the government's handling of the negotiations, 32 percent said they disapproved.

The findings of the survey suggest that the British public is increasingly supportive of the EU and is becoming increasingly frustrated with the government's handling of Brexit negotiations. This could have a significant impact on how people vote in the upcoming European Parliament elections.