People in the UK prioritise access to European single market ahead of full control of borders, finds Ipsos MORI

Theresa May and Philip Hammond - credit: Carl Court/PA Wire/Press Association Images     

More people in the UK support retaining access to the European single market than full control of the UK’s borders, according to new polling from Ipsos MORI.

The poll found 45 per cent of respondents would prioritise the current free trade deal with Europe, compared to 39 per cent who would prefer control on immigration.

The Government has stressed that ending free movement is a “red line” in Brexit talks - something that is widely viewed as incompatible with membership or full access to the single market.

RELATED CONTENT

Draft Scottish independence referendum Bill launched amid concern from unionists and investors

Nicola Sturgeon: Brexit will be second best, at the very most

Will indyref2 ever happen?

Theresa May and Philip Hammond have refused to concede that the UK will lose its access to the market, however.

The figures also show Scots are significantly more likely to prioritise single market access (with 61 per cent in favour), which will come as welcome news to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as she paves the way for a fresh independence referendum in the event of a “hard Brexit”.

By contrast, only 22 per cent of Scots want Britain to focus on shoring up its border control, compared to 41 per cent in England.

The results largely mirror the June vote for Britain to leave the EU, with younger voters preferring closer ties to Europe, while older voters are more concerned with immigration.

Among 18-34 year olds, 57 per cent favour access to the single market, compared to 32 per cent of those over 55.

Polling also suggests Conservative supporters are largely split, with 38% in favour of prioritising access to the single market and 45 per cent immigration control. Labour supporters are more in favour of prioritising access to the single market over controlling immigration, by 58 per cent to 28 per cent.

Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos MORI, said: “Four months on from the referendum and the public are still split over single market access vs immigration control, with little sign of those on either the remain or leave sides changing their minds.

“This is only going to make Theresa May's task to get a negotiation that satisfies everyone even harder.”

The question put to 1,016 respondents was “Should Britain prioritise single market access or control of immigration in its future relationship with the EU?”