britains antibrexit voters face tough choice
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Britain's anti-Brexit voters face tough choice

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Britain's anti-Brexit voters face tough choice

Brtitish voters who want to stay in the EU
London - Arab Today

For the 48 percent of British voters who backed staying in the European Union in last year’s referendum, choosing a candidate to represent them in the upcoming election is proving extremely difficult.

Some, like 45-year-old Tom Glover, are planning to vote for the centrist Liberal Democrats -- a minor opposition party that is very pro-European.

"I've never voted for the Lib Dems in my life, but I will this time," the computer engineer and staunch Europhile told AFP in the City, London’s business hub.

Glover was seduced by the Liberal Democrats' promise to hold a second referendum at the end of Brexit negotiations on whether to accept the terms of the deal, or reject them and stay in the bloc.

"The leader (Tim Farron) isn't the most charismatic in my opinion but the idea that they would try their best to stay in Europe is enough for me to vote for them," he added.

But few think like Glover and, despite unexpectedly receiving the backing of the respected weekly magazine The Economist, the Liberal Democrats continue to languish in the polls.

The party only has seven percent of voting intentions in a recent poll by YouGov -- which interviewed 1,875 people on May 30 and 31.

That was well behind the ruling Conservative Party on 42 percent and the main opposition Labour Party on 39 percent.

- 'Best for the UK' -

Long-time supporter Benjamin, 31, said he would not vote for the Lib Dems despite being anxious over Brexit as his partner is European and his industry is dependent on business with Europe.

"It's just that they are not going to win. There is no point," he told AFP.

For the pension fund employee, it is crucial to block Prime Minister Theresa May from leading the Brexit negotiations.

"I don't believe she or the Conservatives are doing what is best for the UK," he said, arguing that "it would be better to have a Labour government."

According to YouGov, 53 percent of "Remainers" -- those who voted to stay in the bloc -- intend to vote for the main opposition party led by Jeremy Corbyn, even though his campaign to stay in the EU was lacklustre and he is now promising Brexit.

But the party's pledge to respect the outcome of the referendum while also negotiating a "close relationship" with the EU resonates well with "Remainers".

Forty-eight percent of them believe "the government has a duty to carry out" Brexit, according to a YouGov poll from May 8.

"People voted, so at the end of the day, if you go back on this referendum, why would you abide by any other referendum?" Natasha, a human resource professional told AFP.

Describing herself as "unrepresented" on the campaign trail, Natasha argued that the referendum's close result "gives credence to the fact that there should be a soft Brexit" where Britain would remain inside the European single market and allow immigration.

- Tactical voting -

It is for these undecided voters that Gina Miller launched her "Best for Britain" initiative within hours of May taking the country by surprise in April by announcing a snap election.

Her crowd-funding appeal promised to put Brexit at the heart of the campaign and collected more than £400,000 ($514,000, 457,000 euros).

The investment fund manager has distributed the money to 25 candidates from either Labour, Lib Dems, the Green Party or independent.

All pledged to fight against the tougher Brexit advocated by the prime minister.

For Miller, this "progressive alliance" may be the answer to what she see as a "vacuum" in British politics.

"The most effective thing to do is tactical voting," she told AFP.

Voters, she argued, should cast their ballot "for the character of the individual, not the character of the party".

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

britains antibrexit voters face tough choice britains antibrexit voters face tough choice

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

britains antibrexit voters face tough choice britains antibrexit voters face tough choice

 



GMT 05:50 2017 Tuesday ,15 August

20 killed in Takhar funeral attack

GMT 04:51 2017 Thursday ,13 April

Huda Kattan among top 10 beauty influencers

GMT 09:44 2018 Saturday ,06 January

Aoun to deliver speech in Rome this afternoon

GMT 09:14 2017 Saturday ,30 December

London stocks end year on record high

GMT 11:47 2017 Monday ,11 December

France's rightwing shifts after Macron victory

GMT 04:49 2013 Monday ,27 May

Feng Shui living room concepts

GMT 19:45 2017 Wednesday ,18 January

The UAE Releases Global State of the Future Report

GMT 23:40 2017 Wednesday ,18 October

OIC condemns terrorist attack in Jeddah

GMT 16:41 2017 Saturday ,18 February

FBMA International Show Jumping Cup 2017 competition

GMT 17:43 2017 Tuesday ,14 February

Spanish activists taken to court over BDS activism

GMT 21:37 2017 Sunday ,02 July

Religious tourism lottery to be held on Monday

GMT 15:27 2017 Saturday ,24 June

US imposes ban on fresh Brazil beef imports

GMT 06:07 2017 Tuesday ,24 October

Air Force set to create new ISR unit with Global Hawk

GMT 03:49 2017 Thursday ,22 June

Dalai Lama says will visit Trump

GMT 03:52 2017 Sunday ,15 January

Drydocks World and GDRFA sign MoU partnership
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday