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Voters are “terrified” and “uneasy” about Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal, a poll shows.

The survey for the Daily Mirror found only 22% believe we should walk away from the Brexit negotiations if we cannot get an agreement.

Theresa May has repeatedly said that “no deal is better than a bad deal.”

But our poll found deep-seated anxiety among voters at the prospect.

Only 9% of those asked by the polling firm Deltapoll fully backed the no deal option.

By comparison, 29% said they were “very concerned” about such an outcome and a further 18% said it would cause “catastrophic problems” and they were “terrified” by the idea of leaving without an agreement.

Asked which words described how they felt about leaving without a deal

31% said “uneasy,” 28% “disappointed”, 17% “hopeful”, 13% said “angry”, 12% “disgusted”, 12% “confident” and 9% “excited.”

If there were a second referendum on British membership of the European Union, how would you vote? * Deltapoll surveyed 1,017 people on October 24-26 Assuming Britain does leave the European Union next March, what impact, if any, do you expect it will have on your own life? Will your life be...? * Deltapoll surveyed 1,017 people on October 24-26.

A clear majority are also concerned at the lack of preparations for crashing out with no deal.

Only 22% are confident or very confident we are ready for such a scenario, with 61% worried about the government’s failure to plan.

(Image: Getty Images)

The findings follow reports the government could have to stockpile medicines and lorries would be backed up outside Calais if we fail to land a deal.

The poll also raises fresh doubts about the Prime Minister’s ability to get her Chequers plan through Parliament.

Only 10% back Mrs May’s approach as the “best chance of getting Brexit through.”

The UK is due to leave the European Union on March 29th next year, 2019. What do you think should happen next * Deltapoll surveyed 1,017 people on October 24-26.

By contrast 26% want Brexit abandoned altogether, 14% want the Prime Minister to go back to the drawing board, 9% want Article 50 extended for further negotiations and 22% want to walk away without a deal.

There is widespread dissatisfaction with Mrs May’s handling of the negotiations.

Only 5% say she is handling the process “very well” and 27% “quite well.”

Do you think Theresa May is doing very well in handling negotiations over Brexit, quite well, quite badly or very badly?

This compares with 28% who say she is handling it “quite badly” and 26% who say it is being “very badly” conducted.

Among leave voters one in four are unhappy with the way Mrs May is overseeing Brexit.

Best for Britain champion David Lammy MP: “The sea-change in public opinion towards Brexit is now impossible for MPs and the government to ignore.

From what you know, how confident are you that the British government has made sufficient preparation for the possibility of a No Deal Brexit? * Deltapoll surveyed 1,017 people on October 24-26

“The Prime Minister is acting on an old mandate from 2016 that now has expired.

“The only two remaining possible forms of Brexit, no deal and Theresa May’s deal, are both deeply unpopular in the country.”



Caroline Lucas MP, leading supporter of the People’s Vote campaign, added: “There’s clearly no majority in either Parliament or the country for any form of Brexit.

“There is certainly no majority for a disastrous no deal Brexit, but equally there’s no support for the Government’s dog’s-dinner Brexit proposals.

“The Brexit that was promised looks increasingly impossible to deliver.

“The only way to break through this log-jam is to give the people the final say through a People’s Vote, and let them decide for themselves the best way forwards.”

Our Poll 1 If there were a second referendum on British membership of the European Union, how would you vote? Leave 40 Remain 40 Don’t know 11 Would not vote 8 2 The UK is due to leave the European Union on March 29th next year, 2019. What do you think should happen next Brexit should be abandoned altogether 26 Negotiators should try to get the Prime Minister’s Chequers deal agreed because it is the only remaining chance of getting Brexit though 10 The Prime Minister should go back to the drawing board and come up with a more acceptable plan by Brexit date of March 29th next year 14 Delay Article 50 to postpone Brexit and give the Prime Minister as much time as needed to come up with a more acceptable plan 9 Refuse to make any more concessions with the EU and leave without a Brexit deal if necessary 22 Don’t know 19 3 Some people think that the UK leaving the EU without a deal will have very damaging practical and economic consequences for the UK. Others think that warnings like these are unfounded and most things will carry on pretty much as normal. Which one of the following do you most agree with? I believe that a No Deal Brexit will cause catastrophic problems for the UK and I am terrified about the prospect of them happening 18 I think that there will be some major problems with a No Deal Brexit that only time will solve and I’m very concerned about the prospect of them happening 29 I think there will only be a few problems with a No Deal Brexit which will soon be solved and I’m not really worried about it 29 I don’t think there will be any problems with a No Deal Brexit and everything will either carry on as normal or may improve. I’m looking forward to leaving 9 Don’t know 15 4 From what you know, how confident are you that the British government has made sufficient preparation for the possibility of a No Deal Brexit? Very confident 3 Quite confident 19 Not very confident 35 Not at all confident 26 Don’t know 17 5 Which, if any, of the following words describe your feelings about Britain leaving the EU without any kind of agreement being reached with the European Union, a so-called ‘No Deal Brexit’? Uneasy 31 Disappointed 28 Hopeful 17 Angry 13 Confident 12 Disgusted 12 Terrified 10 Excited 9 Happy 9 Proud 7 6 Do you think Theresa May is doing very well in handling negotiations over Brexit, quite well, quite badly or very badly? Very well 5 Quite well 27 Quite badly 28 Very badly 26 Don’t know 14 7 Thinking back to the time of the EU Referendum in June 2016, which of the following comes closest to your own view? I felt fully informed of the implications of Brexit at the time 11 I felt I knew quite a lot about the implications of Brexit at the time 24 I felt I only had a basic understanding of the implications of Brexit at the time 34 I felt I knew nothing about the implications of Brexit at the time 22 Don’t know 9 8 Assuming Britain does leave the European Union next March, what impact, if any, do you expect it will have on your own life? Will your life be...? A lot better 4 A little better 10 About the same 39 A little worse 11 A lot worse 16 Don’t know 16 * Deltapoll surveyed 1,017 people on October 24-26.

Deltapoll’s Joe Twyman said: “With time for negotiation running out the British public continues to be deeply divided over Brexit.

“Overall support for the two positions has changed very little and the issue generates a range of emotions.

“While some are hopeful and others disappointed, the most common emotion is unease.

“Theresa May will hope that situations changes if and when a deal with the European Union is agreed.

“The people are less optimistic, however, with fewer than a quarter confident that the government has made sufficient preparations for a no deal Brexit.”