Results of survey will make sobering reading for leaders of three major parties, as PM prepares for crucial meeting on EU budget.Well over half of British voters now want to leave the European Union, according to an opinion poll that shows anti-EU sentiment is sweeping through all three main political parties.
The Opinium/Observer survey finds that 56% of people would probably or definitely vote for the UK to go it alone if they were offered the choice in a referendum. About 68% of Conservative voters want to leave the EU, against 24% who want to remain; 44% of Labour voters would probably choose to get out, against 39% who would back staying in, while some 39% of Liberal Democrats would probably or definitely vote to get out, compared with 47% who would prefer to remain in the EU.
The findings will make sobering reading for all three major parties, which are at risk of losing support to the buoyant anti-EU party Ukip -- now two points ahead of the Lib Dems on 10%.
Overall just 28% of likely voters think the EU is a "good thing" while 45% think it is a "bad thing". The 18-34 age group is the only one in which there is a clear majority backing the EU, with 44% saying membership is good, against 25%.
The poll will pile yet more pressure on David Cameron to negotiate a tough deal on the EU budget as he prepares for a Brussels summit, beginning on Thursday, at which EU leaders will attempt to hammer out a financial deal for the union for the seven years from 2014.
The prime minister's problems deepened on Saturday when one of the ringleaders of a recent Commons rebellion on EU financing, the Eurosceptic MP Mark Reckless, predicted an even bigger revolt if Cameron returned from Brussels without having negotiated a real-terms cut in EU spending, or wielded a veto.