Calls for a new referendum are rising

The fear of the negative consequences of Brexit means that more and more Britons who previously voted to leave the European Union (EU) now prefer to stay in the EU. That's what pollster John Curtice told Business Insider.

Curtice signs up Business Insider that a substantial minority of voters who previously opted for secession would now vote against. This is because they are afraid of the economic consequences of a hard Brexit.

Economic consequences
The latest poll for NatCen Social Research shows that the camp that wants to stay in the EU has gained an 8 percentage point lead. Curtice says the most notable result is that the shift is driven by voter concerns about the economic impact of a hard Brexit. The poll shows that 51% of voters expect the economy to be worse off, up from 39% in June 2016.

That is striking. It was thought that Brexit proponents in 2016 made this choice consciously, despite the negative economic impact. It also shows that some of the proponents are concerned about the economic consequences and switching camps. "There is a substantial minority of Brexiteers who are no longer so sure about the economic consequences."

Chance of a no-deal plays almost no role
It is remarkable that the fear of a no-deal plays almost no role. Curtice told Business Insider that voters who support Brexit are largely unaffected by the prospect of a no-deal. After all, they are more likely to attribute the failure of the negotiations to politicians (such as Theresa May and Michel Barnier) than to Brexit itself.

The decline in support for Brexit therefore appears to be due to concerns about the negative economic impact rather than concerns about a no-deal Brexit with the EU. Curtice's recent poll for NatCen shows that less than 1 in 5 (17%) of voters expect a good negotiation outcome, compared to 2017% in February 33.

British trade unionists for new referendum
Concerns about the negative consequences for the economy are increasing calls for a new referendum. About 66% of British trade unionists are in favor of a new referendum. This is evident from a poll among more than 2.700 members of the three largest unions, according to The Guardian.

Of the members of Unite, the largest trade union, 59% are in favor of a new referendum and 61% want to stay in the EU. Polls among the members of the other 2 unions (Unison and GMB) show a similar picture. Many members believe that employment will decline if Britain leaves the EU. They also fear that the standard of living will fall.

The unions will meet on Monday 10 September for an annual conference. Brexit will also be discussed at that meeting. Last week Sunday September 2nd called Prime Minister Theresa May a new referendum a betrayal of democracy.

Read more on Business Insider:
- 'Only 1 in 5 Dutch companies are actively preparing for Brexit'
- Brexit deadline: this chart shows all the key decision moments
- Another blow to May: France does not seem to support her proposal after all

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