Nearly seven years after the Brexit referendum, Britons have (much) more confidence in the EU than in the Westminster Parliament or the current government in London.
This is revealed by a survey by the World Values Survey, which indicates that positive sentiment toward the Brussels institutions across the Channel has been growing in recent years.
In contrast to that toward the British executive now led by Rishi Sunak, and the “cradle of modern democracy” (as the British call it). Whose approval ratings appear to have fallen significantly since 2018.
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The survey about Brexit, revival of trust of the Britons in the EU
There are increasing signs of disappointment in the United Kingdom over the post-Brexit period. It is being felt in a survey conducted by the international World Values Survey project. Since the referendum on divorce from Brussels among Britons there has been a revival of trust in the EU.
The Guardian’s analysis of the results shows that 39 percent of His Majesty’s subjects trust the Union as an institution. This is a seven percentage point increase over 2016.
While the approval rating toward the Westminster Parliament has dropped 10 points to 22 percent, and the rating toward the government also falls.
Brexit, the reasons behind the disappointment
This is one of several signs that have emerged particularly in recent months in the face of the negative setbacks of leaving the EU, starting with those on the British economy also emphasized by the Bank of England with the fallout on productivity and foreign trade. And the too many promises so far missed by the Tory government.
But this disappointment may also be transitory and accentuated by the problematic economic situation internationally.
In fact, again looking at the polls, a partial recovery in support for the Conservative party emerges compared to Labour in opposition, under the leadership of Premier Rishi Sunak, who has chosen a more pragmatic line with Brussels.
Recently, he concluded the compromise agreement with the EU on post-Brexit Protocol relief for Northern Ireland. But above all, the promised – widely contested – tightening of borders against “illegal immigration” with the slogan “let’s stop the landings” is catching on in some sectors of the electorate.
With the Sunak executive, the Tories have thus recovered eight percentage points if one looks at the average polling in the Kingdom compared to Labour. Which nevertheless still travels about twenty points ahead of the governing party.
