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Most Brits now want the UK to stay in the EU, according to a major new analysis of polls.

Remain now has an average four-point lead - reversing the gap in the 2016 referendum.

Analysis of 149 polls found Remain is now consistently ahead of Leave.

The research, carried out by YouGov, found Leave was ahead by an average of two points after the referendum, dropping to one point in the first six months of 2017.

Remain gained a two-point lead over the last six months of 2017, according to the study.

It comes as separate research found an overwhelming majority of English Conservatives believe Scottish independence or the collapse of the Northern Ireland peace process are a price worth paying for Brexit.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

The Brexit negotiations are entering the crucial final stages, with EU leaders preparing to meet next week in the hope of finding a solution to the outstanding exit issues.

Anthony Wells, director of political research at YouGov, said: “The weight of evidence means that we can be as good as certain that, at least as far as the polls are concerned, Remain is now ahead of Leave.

“Between them the four trackers have asked the question 61 times this year, and 57 of them were Remain.”

Research carried out by the universities of Edinburgh and Cardiff found 79% of English Conservatives would support Scottish independence and 75% the collapse of the peace process to ensure Brexit went ahead.

The Future of England Study also found 87% of the mainly unionist Leave voters in Northern Ireland also believe it is acceptable to sacrifice the peace process in favour of quitting the bloc.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

Richard Wyn Jones, Professor of Welsh Politics at Cardiff University, said: "Strident protestations of faith in the future of the Union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from Theresa May and her leading ministers cannot hide the fact that that the Union is under huge stress as result of Brexit.

"Ironically, that threat is posed at least as much by those who would regard themselves as unionists as it is by those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who actively wish the union's demise."