What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A change of heart by Labour supporters is behind a shift in voters opposing Brexit, a new analysis reveals.

The study shows that since the 2016 referendum 1.6million people who backed Leave have moved to the Remain camp.

The vast majority of these - 1.4million - are Labour supporters especially in the north east and north west of England.

But this is offset by a hardening of attitudes among Tory voters, with 800,000 Conservatives who backed Remain now saying they would vote Leave.

The findings are based on an analysis of YouGov polls of 15,000 people by the anti-Brexit Best for Britain campaign and Hope Not Hate.

It finds a major shift in views among Labour voters in the party’s traditional heartlands with seats such as Wigan, Middlesbrough, Barnsley Central and Bolton South East moving towards Remain.

In Burnley 33% backed Remain at the referendum but 45% would now do so, while in Barnsley Central 31% voted Remain but that has leapt to 49% and in Middlesbrough the number backing Remain has gone from 34% 47%.

It is a similar story in Washington & Sunderland West where support for Remain has risen from 38% to 49% and Ashton-under-Lyne where it has risen from 38% to 47.6%.

Best for Britain says since the 2016 referendum 112 parliamentary seats that voted Leave would now back remain, with the majority of them (69 seats) held by Labour.

According to its analysis a further 71 further seats that are likely to switch to Remain in the near future.

Labour MP Owen Smith said the findings showed why Jeremy Corbyn should back a second referendum.

He said: “This new data confirms that Britain is changing its mind about Brexit and Labour voters are leading the change.

“They want to see an end to austerity and they are worried that Brexit will mean years more of cuts to the NHS and other public services.

“If Jeremy Corbyn wants to be Prime Minister and to rebuild those public services he needs to win those voters by delivering a vote on the final deal and a chance for the country change course on Brexit.”

So far the Labour leadership has refused to endorse a referendum on the final Brexit deal but has said the option remains on the table.

According to the survey, 56% of Labour voters wanted a second poll, with 32% opposed.

The poll also found middle aged voters are most likely to have changed their mind on Brexit, with 32% of 25 to 34 year-olds moving from Leave to Remain and 23.7% of 35 to 44 year-olds.

By contrast only 2.8 of those aged 65 and over have altered their opinion on Brexit.

The findings also spell potential trouble for Tory Brexiteers such as Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab.

In Mr Johnson’s Uxbridge constituency in London only 14% backed a no deal Brexit with 49% opposed and 74% said they did not know how complicated Brexit would be.

In Mr Raab’s Esher and Walton seat 58% back Remain, with 73% saying Brexit gets in the way of the real issues facing the country.

(Image: REUTERS)

Across the country 75% say they did not know how complicated Brexit would be, while 48% say leaving without a deal would be bad for the UK, 21% saying it would make no difference and 13% saying it would be good for the country.

In total 93% of constituencies have seen a move to Remain with just 7% in the opposite direction, the analysis shows.

The biggest move to Leave is in Henley, Oxon, where there has been a 3.6% move in favour of Brexit.

Best for Britain today launches a new campaign calling for voters to have a final say on any Brexit deal.

Best for Britain’s Eloise Todd said: “The country continues to shift away from supporting Brexit, and people want to have the final say on whether we leave Europe or not.

“Most Labour constituencies have majority support for a people’s vote, a clear majority of Labour voters back a people’s vote, and most of the country’s 1.6million people that have shifted support Labour. This research could be a watershed moment in the final say campaign.

“We need the Opposition to step up and give a real alternative to government’s Brexit deal, starting with a people’s vote with an option to stay, lead and thrive in Europe.”