POLL: Most Brits Says Brexit Too Slow, Believe Irish Border ‘Deliberately Exaggerated to Suit Political Agenda’

Most British voters believe technology can be used to keep the Irish border open after Brexit, and more than 60 percent say Brexit talks are moving too slowly, a new poll has revealed.

In some groups, views are even stronger. More than ninety percent of Unionists and Leave voters in Northern Ireland, and three-quarters of Tory and Leave voters in Great Britain, agreed that the border issue is being “deliberately exaggerated by politicians and others to suit their own political agenda”.

Furthermore, according to the Lord Ashcroft poll, three-quarters of Brexit voters in Britain and a majority of Remainers say the Brexit negotiations and decisions about the UK’s future outside the bloc were proceeding too slowly.

When it comes to explaining these perceived failures, almost half of Brexit supporters thought British politicians who want a soft Brexit or to stop it altogether were to blame.

A quarter, meanwhile, blames the EU and other European governments.

Most British voters think technology would allow any customs checks on the Irish border to be done quickly and easily… and that the issue of Brexit and the Irish border is being deliberately exaggerated. pic.twitter.com/b6vmNq39Ys

— Lord Ashcroft (@LordAshcroft) June 19, 2018

Writing in The Telegraph, Lord Ashcroft explains: “Most people on both sides think the Brexit process is taking too long.

“Remainers largely blame politicians pushing for a hard Brexit, but Leave voters accuse those who want to prevent or soften our withdrawal, or the EU and European governments.

“While no-one envies Theresa May her task, Leavers say they would see any extended ‘implementation period’, during which the UK continued to abide by Brussels rules, as an excuse for keeping us in the EU for as long as possible, rather than a genuine attempt to get our post-Brexit arrangements right.”

In March, leading Brexit-supporting MP Jacob Rees-Mogg argued the EU was manipulating the issue of the Irish border in an attempt keep the UK tied to many of its rules and regulations.

Brussels, however, insists the border be kept open, whilst claiming this cannot be done with the entire UK outside the Customs Union.