August 19, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The vast majority of people in Britain want to have a say on whether the country should adhere to a proposed continental body of law, according to a poll by Ipsos-Mori. 81 per cent of respondents think the government should ask through a referendum if Britons want to sign the European Union Constitution Treaty (EUCT), while only 17 per cent think this decision should

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The vast majority of people in Britain want to have a say on whether the country should adhere to a proposed continental body of law, according to a poll by Ipsos-Mori. 81 per cent of respondents think the government should ask through a referendum if Britons want to sign the European Union Constitution Treaty (EUCT), while only 17 per cent think this decision should be taken by Parliament.

The heads of state of the EU officially signed the European Constitution on Oct. 29, 2004. The project for a continental body of law was practically abandoned in 2005, after voters in France and the Netherlands rejected the proposed document in two plebiscites.

In June, the leaders of the 27 EU member nations reached an agreement in Germany to revise the proposed European Constitution, create a new EUCT before the end of this year, and achieve its ratification by mid-2009. 31 per cent of respondents are strongly against Britain joining the EUCT and would vote against it in a referendum, while 24 per cent are slightly against it but would still consider a change of mind before an eventual vote.

In June, Gordon Brown officially took over as Labour leader and prime minister from Tony Blair. Brown had worked as chancellor of the exchequer.

Earlier this month, Mark Malloch Brown, the British Minister for Africa, said he is "a huge fan" of the EUCT but warned that Britain could lose its seat in the United Nations (UN) Security Council if it signs the treaty, adding, "I think it will go in stages. We are going to see a growing spread of it institution by institution. It is not going to happen with a flash and a bang."

Polling Data

Do you think that it would be better to allow Parliament to decide whether or not Britain should sign the EU Constitution Treaty, or should it be put to the British public to decide in a referendum?

Parliament should decide	17%
Referendum of British people	81%
Don't know	2%

Which of the statements I am going to read out best reflects your view of how you would vote if there were a referendum on whether Britain should or should not adopt the proposed EU Constitution Treaty:

I am strongly against Britain adopting the EUCT, would certainly vote against it in a referendum, and my mind is made up	31%
I am slightly against Britain adopting the EUCT and would tend to vote against it in a referendum, but I could be persuaded to change my mind	24%
I am slightly in favour of Britain adopting the EUCT and would tend to vote for it in a referendum, but I could be persuaded to change my mind	27%
I am strongly for Britain adopting the EUCT would certainly vote for it in a referendum, and my mind is made up	10%
Don't know	7%

Source: Ipsos-MORI
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,010 British adults, conducted from Aug. 8 to Aug. 9, 2007. No margin of error was provided.