THE Brexit vote has exposed "fundamental" problems in the way Britain's economy works, a leading think-tank claims today, as a poll suggested nine out of 10 people want the country to remain in the European single market.

A report by the IPPR found that the UK economy was "not working" for most people, reflected in a poll, which showed 51 per cent of Britons thought it was unfair for the majority.

The IPPR report highlighted a string of economic problems, including the continuing trade and budget deficits as well as growth benefiting the richest while the poorest saw their incomes stagnate and London and south east England having much higher incomes and productivity compared to other parts of the country.

Read more: Scottish universities fear Brexit will spark 'brain drain' of young talent

It claimed the economic strength hailed by UK Government ministers masked "an economy that is succeeding at the top but facing deep troubles below the surface".

"Brexit forces us to face up to the diagnosis: we have an economy that is not delivering what it should for the British people. The paradox of the Brexit vote - a mandate for change that may make change harder to achieve - requires a far-reaching response," argued the report.

Tom Kibasi, the IPPR director, said the Brexit vote and election of Donald Trump demonstrated that an economy with "justice at its heart" was essential for a thriving democracy.

He said: "The problems we face aren't temporary weaknesses in an otherwise sound model. The foundations of our economy need to be rethought and the rules of the economy need to be rewritten."

The report comes as a major Brexit survey conducted by NatCen Social Research showed 90 per cent of respondents wanted Britain to continue to trade freely in goods and services with its European neighbours after leaving the EU while 70 per cent said the UK should be able to limit the number of EU citizens coming to live and work in the UK.

Read more: Scottish universities fear Brexit will spark 'brain drain' of young talent

Forced to choose between the two priorities, people opted by a two per cent margin, 51 to 49, for immigration controls.

John Curtice, senior research fellow at NatCen, who is also Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University, said irrespective of how people voted, they did not feel Brexit should necessarily be a choice between a hard or a soft withdrawal.

"Consequently, the kind of deal that is most likely to prove electorally popular is one that maintains free trade but permits at least some limits on EU migration,” he added.

Its publication comes as:

*new figures showed the number of EU workers in the UK, coming from eight eastern European countries, increased by nearly 50,000 after the June EU referendum, pushing the total number from these states to more than one million,

*Brussels unveiled plans for a new visa system to enhance security, which could mean Britons will have to pay five euros and fill out an online form every time they travel to the continent; a move described by pro-EU Open Britain as “yet more evidence of the hidden cost of Brexit” and

*an Ipsos Mori poll found 48 per cent of respondents said Theresa May's team was handling Brexit badly compared to 37 per cent, who thought it was doing well. Some 81 per cent said Westminster should be given a vote on triggering withdrawal negotiations.

Read more: Scottish universities fear Brexit will spark 'brain drain' of young talent

At Westminster, the Prime Minister and Jeremy Corbyn clashed on Brexit during a rowdy question-time when the Labour leader accused her of “making a total shambles of Brexit”, adding: “Nobody understands what her strategy actually is?”

Mrs May hit back, insisting her government was “preparing carefully for the formal negotiations” and that Whitehall did have a plan: to deliver the best possible deal on trade and for Britain to control its borders.

At Holyrood, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the Scottish Government was considering a Norway-style model for keeping Scotland in the single market.

The First Minister told the Scottish Parliament’s Convenors’ Group: “I mean membership of the single market, not some vague access to the single market that other parties might talk about but there are different ways that that can perhaps be achieved.”

The SNP administration’s options paper is due to be published before Christmas. The next plenary session of the Joint Ministerial Committee involving the UK Government and the devolved administrations is set to take place in January.