A majority of voters in the South West want a ‘people’s vote’ on Brexit, a new survey has revealed.

The YouGov poll findings come as fears of a no-deal Brexit pushed the Sterling to its lowest level in almost a year.

The survey of 1,000 people living in the South West found most want:

a say on any final Brexit deal negotiated by the government (42 vs 35 per cent)

a new referendum if talks break down and the UK has to choose between staying in the EU or leaving without a deal (47 vs 27 per cent).

Crucially, 51 per cent now support staying in the EU, whereas most voted to leave in the 2016 referendum.

Peter Kellner, former president of YouGov, said: “This poll is the first significant test of public opinion in the South West on Brexit since the referendum and shows that attitudes are beginning to shift.

“Opinion is still very polarised with big differences between the views of young people and older voters but it is interesting to see how many Leave supporters have concerns about the possible impact of Brexit on their region.”

The people of Bath and North East Somerset voted for the UK to remain in the EU by 58 per cent to 42 per cent in the referendum.

The country as a whole voted to leave by 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

What the YouGov survey of South West voters found

42 vs 35 per cent want a say on any final Brexit deal negotiated by the government

47 vs 27 per cent want a new referendum if talks break down and the UK has to choose between staying in the EU or leaving without a deal (47 vs 27 per cent).

51 vs 49 per cent support staying in the EU

76 vs 24 per cent of Labour voters want to stay in the EU

80 vs 20 per cent of Labour voters want a new referendum on Brexit

86 vs 14 per cent of young people under the age of 25 want to stay in the EU

49 vs 30 per cent would choose the ability to trade freely with Europe over the ability to control the number of EU migrants

Concerns about some of the likely outcomes of leaving the EU are shared almost equally by people who voted Remain and Leave in 2016.

(Image: Getty)

Asked whether it is important to retain the following in years to come, voters said they wanted to:

Send EU criminals home and bring UK criminals back to face justice through the European Arrest Warrant (78 per cent of all voters, 86 per cent of Leave voters).

Keep jobs of workers in companies trading with EU (75 per cent of all voters, 71 per cent of Leave voters).

Keep structural and development funds currently funded by EU (60 per cent of all voters, 44 per cent of Leave voters)

Enable fishing fleets to sell as easily as today into EU markets (74 per cent of all voters, 74 per cent of Leave voters).

Keep European rules protecting status of West Country beef and lamb (62 per cent of all voters, 63 per cent of Leave voters).

Keep European rules protecting the status of cider, cheese, clotted cream (53 per cent of all voters, 50 per cent of Leave voters).

Keep international rules that the Cornish pasty must be made in Cornwall (46 per cent of all voters, 47 per cent of Leave voters).

At the time of writing, Theresa May was reportedly planning a top level cabinet meeting in September to discuss how to prepare for the event of a no-deal Brexit.

As of Wednesday (August 8), the EU had reportedly not accepted the UK prime minister’s request to discuss Brexit at a summit in Salzburg on September 20.

What the politicians are saying

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse, who has campaigned alongside other Liberal Democrats for another referendum on Brexit, has welcomed the findings.

Ben Bradshaw, Labour MP for Exeter and leading supporter of the People’s Vote campaign, has urged his colleagues to re-examine their stance on Brexit.

Bath Live has contacted Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, the member for North East Somerset, for comment and is awaiting a response.

Mrs Hobhouse told Bath Live: "These figures are encouraging. They show that people are seeing the realities of Brexit; and are rightly concerned. They also show that people are changing their minds as a result.

“And that's fine, it's OK to change your mind. We need to stop and ask ourselves, do we really want to do this? So, we need a People's Vote.

“The Labour leadership are at odds with their supporters, members and MPs over this. The Tories are paralysed and so are dragging us to a no deal crash out.

“The Liberal Democrats have been arguing for a referendum on the deal since Brexit. We are unified, we are fighting, and we want to stay in the EU."

Ben Bradshaw, Labour MP for Exeter and leading supporter of the People’s Vote campaign, said: “Whether they voted leave or remain in the referendum, members of the public from all walks of life in the South West now want to take back control of the Brexit process from Westminster and demand a People’s Vote.

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“The botched Brexit being dumped on the South West’s doorstep by politicians in Westminster will be a disaster for this brilliant region, its economy, its culture and its young people.

“My own party is in danger of letting down its voters and young people in particular. I urge my colleagues who do not yet support a People’s Vote to study this poll and ask themselves whether they came into politics to stand against the views of our supporters or do they want to join us in the South West in demanding our democratic voice is heard on Brexit.”

More about the People’s Vote campaign

Campaigners for a People’s Vote have today (August 9) published a dossier describing how it believes the Government’s proposals - or a “disastrous” no deal Brexit - will affect jobs, vital public services, investment, iconic industries and young people’s futures in the South West.

It is planning a rally at the Colston Hall in Bristol on Saturday (August 11). Speakers include Totnes Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable, Labour MP Stephen Doughty and Green Party MEP Molly Scott-Cato.

The People’s Vote dossier, based on research including an economic analysis by researchers at the LSE, found:

The South West’s economy is expected to shrink by two per cent over the next 12 years if Brexit goes ahead, meaning every man, woman and child in the region will be an average of £461 a year worse off.

The NHS across the South West has lost 745 European-born nurses and midwives since the Brexit referendum – a net loss of 163 trained and qualified staff working in the region’s hospitals.

More than £700 million of EU funding for South West businesses and projects is at risk from Brexit.

1.5 million tourists to the South West from Europe may choose to go elsewhere each year, while South West tourist attractions and businesses will find it harder to employ seasonal staff from abroad.

South West blue flag beaches are at risk of pollution and environmental damage and could lose their prestigious status as some of the cleanest beaches in Europe.

The Cornish Pasty, clotted cream and West Country Cider are all at threat of losing their highly-desired protected status and could end up competing in a free-market "free for all".

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