Six months after EU referendum, poll reveals 54 per cent of Brits ‘want Brexit as soon as possible’ as Theresa May faces fight
Pollsters find UK now wants Theresa May to implement a quick EU divorce, with a quarter of Remain voters also agreeing
A MAJORITY of Brits now want a speedy Brexit - as it also emerges Theresa May faces an even harder fight for a good walk out deal from the EU.
An ICM poll to mark the six month anniversary of the landmark referendum today found 54% want the PM to implement the result as soon as possible.
And just one in five voters - 20% - disagreed.
The number in favour of a quick EU departure includes a quarter of all Remain voters, in a sign the country is finally beginning to unify around the huge decision.
But a separate report by a group of academics also released today reveals attitudes in Europe’s other 27 capitals have hardened against Britain since the June vote.
The rest of the EU’s leaders are showing a rare unity to threaten a showdown with Mrs May, the UK in a Changing Europe think found.
They have been angered by what the report dubbed as her “Fantasy Island” bid for a free trade to continue at the same time as imposing tough immigration controls.
Another crunch issue in the exit negotiation is likely to be the size of Britain’s “divorce bill” demanded by the EU Commission of up to £60 billion.
In a stinging criticism of ministers, the academics also said the Government’s response to the Brexit vote had been “massive shock and apparent inertia”.
Ministers’ refusal to spell out their Brexit plan is “less like calmness and more like transfixion in the Article 50 headlights”, the report said.
Labour MP Gisela Stuart, chair of Leave-backing campaign group Change Britain whop commissioned the ICM poll, said: “The British people were clear on what they voted for - control of our laws, borders, money and trade.
“They now want politicians to get on with the job of delivering this.”
But the Brexit ministry insisted Mrs May will still trigger the Article 50 exit talks by the end of March next year.
A Department for Exiting the EU spokesman said: “It’s right that we have been taking the time to prepare, but there will be no unnecessary delay.
“We want to get on with delivering a successful outcome in the interests of the UK and the EU.”