The Midnight Group: 20-Jan-2011 - Poll Results re: EU Referendum Campaign

Friday 21 January 2011

20-Jan-2011 - Poll Results re: EU Referendum Campaign - PRESS RELEASE

Fewer than one in ten people think Britain should be in the business of bailing out the economies of countries that joined the Euro

An exclusive ComRes poll for the EU Referendum Campaign reveals some astonishing figures which clearly show the public’s hostility towards the bailouts and surrendering control of our currency.

More than three quarters of the British public feel that the government should not contribute to the bailout of the Eurozone economies, only 9% agree.

James Pryor, Chief Executive of the EU Referendum Campaign, said “Again, our poll shows the disconnect between the politicians and the mood of the British public. People are increasingly pessimistic about their personal financial situation and even before the cuts have been implemented they think public services are getting worse! It’s hardly surprising then that people regard bailouts as somebody else’s problem”.

“On the subject of the EU, why doesn’t the government agree to give the British public a referendum? What are they afraid of? The politicians just want this issue to go away which clearly it won’t”

ComRes Chairman Andrew Hawkins said: “Our weekly economic surveys show that people in Britain believe the economy is getting worse and are increasingly worried about their own finances. With three quarters looking to tighten their own household budget, and widespread British Euroscepticism, it should hardly come as a surprise that the public is reluctant to bail out what they see as an expensive economic mistake. Eurozone bailouts are regarded by many people as the equivalent of giving governments a blank cheque.”

For further enquiries please contact:

Bridget Rowe

Director of Communications EU Referendum Campaign

07548 530 855

www.eureferendumcampaign.com

Notes to editors:

Methodology Note:

ComRes interviewed 2,033 GB adults online between 14th and 16th January 2011. Data were weighted to be demographically representative of all GB adults. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Full data tables available at www.comres.co.uk.

FULL RESULTS

Q1 Britain’s contribution to the EU is £48 million a day and may increase further following a deal the Prime Minister agreed in Brussels last month. Do you agree or disagree with each of these statements about our relationship with the EU?

If more Eurozone countries like Portugal need bail-outs then Britain should contribute to them

Agree: 9%

Disagree: 76%

Don’t know: 15%

I expect the Euro will fall in value substantially during 2011

Agree: 57%

Disagree: 8%

Don’t know: 35%

Britain should make it a priority to forge stronger economic ties with Commonwealth countries in order to reduce our reliance on the economics of other EU countries

Agree: 55%

Disagree: 19%

Don’t know: 26%

Britain should join the Euro at the earliest possible opportunity

Agree: 6%

Disagree: 77%

Don’t know: 16%

Caroline Lawes

Research Team Manager

ComRes

Four Millbank

London SW1P 3JA