From the Guardian
11:43
Two-thirds of people in UK want Brexit transition extension - poll
Polling commissioned by cross-party campaign group Best for Britain and anti-racism group HOPE not hate has suggested that almost two-thirds of people in the UK want the government to request an extension to the Brexit transition period in order to focus on the coronavirus outbreak.
The Focaldata poll of 2,022 people showed 64% of people agreed with the statement, “The government should request an extension to the transition period in order to focus properly on the Coronavirus’, while more than a third – 36% – agreed with the statement “The Brexit transition period must end on 31 December whether a deal has been fixed or not”.
Best for Britain’s call for an extension to the transition period has been echoed by numerous bodies and pressure groups, including the Scottish and Welsh Governments.
The same poll also found that 65% of people polled wished the government to seek membership of the EU early warning and response system for medical emergencies amid reported reluctance within No 10 to remain a member.
Best for Britain CEO Naomi Smith said:
It’s simply not reasonable to expect we will have tied up negotiations with the EU by the end of the year while dealing with a warlike emergency. Nor is it desirable.
Most people just want the government to get on with the job at hand so that lives can be saved and normality restored as quickly as possible. The country is simply not in a place to weather two storms at the moment.
HOPE not hate CEO Nick Lowles said:
EU schemes like the Early Warning and Response System and the ventilator procurement programme are critical tools for responding to this urgent public health crisis.
The government must put politics aside and urgently seek participation in these schemes. It would be foolhardy for ideology to get in the way of practical measures to keep people safe.