Two-thirds of Liberal Democrat voters want EU reform or out
The new poll from Ipsos MORI for British Future shows 65% of Liberal Democrat voters want to either leave the European Union or reduce its powers.
Relatively speaking, Liberal Democrat voters are more pro-European than the average voter, but – according to this poll – the stress should be very much on the relatively.
I suspect if the ‘reduce its powers’ option was broken out, Liberal Democrat voters would also be happy with much smaller reductions than those that would be needed to satisfy Conservative or UKIP voters who gave the same answer.
It’s also notable how for both Labour and Tory voters, renegotiate is much more popular than leave – which is why I suspect we’ll both end up with a referendum in the next few years and the pro-Europeans side will win it. Rather like electoral reformers and the AV referendum (or Scottish nationalists and their forthcoming referendum, judging by the polls) we’ll have a success for a long-standing campaign for a referendum followed by that side’s defeat.
The smallness of the simple ‘leave the EU’ faction also means the Liberal Democrats are on the popular side by being the ‘party of in’ – as long as it is a reformed in, not an unchanged in.
27% of UKIP supporters not in favour of leaving?
If 65% of Lib Dem voters want either to leave the EU or reduce its powers the Party leadership needs to move decisively in a Eurosceptic direction or risk being labelled as the Eurocrat Party. And it;s only a guess on your part to suggest that small reforms will satisfy the 43% who want reduced powers.
What about scrapping the money-guzzling EU Parliament and give enhanced powers to national Parliaments over EU decision making?
Andrew RH Smith- That figure does seem a tad surreal. I can only assume it was somehow prompted by the way the pollster posed the questions.
eurocrat The next referendum on membership seals it for at least a generation. If UK leaves, expect 30 wasted years
eurocrat UK is losing influence, their best chance is to stick with EU. One rebooted w/ more democratic values than financial slavery.
eurocrat unless the negotiations fail to secure any significant reform. Interesting to see what happens when that variable is factored in.
eurocrat Love the 1 #ukip bod who wants to stay in and the EU to have more powers. Glutton for punishment
sundersays Problem with ‘renegotiation’ is it implies a new deal for UK only. ‘Reform’, on the other hand, could mean changes agreed by all
coalfires I am pretty shocked 65% of LibDems want to leave or reform the EU!!!
europajan Agree. Gvt has that strategy. Strong potential support to stay in reformed EU, so hope EU voices don’t project ‘can’t change’ msg
sundersays There is appetite for reform but within reason. Must also remember key is agreement with other member states, not Commission.
europajan Of course. Letter is a bid to leave. Sensible if EU elected governments, rather than Commissioners, lead public debate
europajan did this interview about it today http://t.co/G8Tv1VieNa
sundersays good stuff!
sundersays: LibDems insist on #EU reform as the party of ‘In’; but way to get it is by forging alliances, not by making unilateral demands
SarahLudfordMEP I agree on the how. Attitudes show fairly weak out support, but also the importance of a credible reform argument
sundersays: just as I have got almost unan cross-party support in EP for Eur Arrest Warr reform while T May failed to persuade fellow govts