Forty-six percent of Britons, a slight increase from 41 percent in November 2016, agreed that greater control over immigration was more important than access to free trade with the European Union (EU), according to an online poll Monday.

A total of 946 out of 2,075 British adults aged 18 and over prioritized greater control over immigration while the government is beginning its divorce talks with the EU, while 39 percent disagreed, said ORB International, a London-based independent polling agency.

"This poll clearly shows that if the country had to choose it would prefer greater control over its borders to access to free trade," said Johnny Heald, ORB's managing director.

When asked early on Sunday whether she was "prepared to prioritize full control over immigration above membership of the single market," Prime Minister Theresa May told Sky News's Sophy Ridge about her intention of not keeping "bits" of EU membership.

The poll also found that 62 percent disapproved of the way in which the Brexit negotiations are being handled.

Source :Xinhua