A MAJORITY of people in Britain think Brexit has had a negative impact on the UK, a new poll has revealed.
A survey by Ipsos MORI found that 51% of respondents felt Brexit had damaged the UK - with only 22% saying the impact of leaving the EU has been positive. 22% said it made no difference.
The figure marked a record-low for Brexit supporters since the polling company began the series in 2020.
The survey also found an overwhelming majority feel the UK is heading in the "wrong direction", the highest number since the 2019 General Election.
Fewer than one in 10 (9%) said the UK is moving in the "right direction".
It comes as the Conservative Party faces its highest unfavourability rating since 2019.
New from @IpsosUK: 51% of Brits think Brexit has had a negative impact on the UK. Just 22% think the impact has been positive. 22% say it has made no difference (the rest don't know). Net positive / negative is -29. Lowest in our series going back to GE2019. pic.twitter.com/YW4jd9rgRh
— Keiran Pedley (@keiranpedley) October 27, 2022
A majority (56%) had a negative view of the Tories, with just one in five having a favourable opinion.
Labour fared better with the public with 38% of respondents viewing the party positively and 36% taking a negative view.
The ratings follow Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner using their appearances on LBC and ITV Peston this week to rule out any return to the EU, single market or customs union even if the Labour Party were to win the next General Election.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said both Labour and the Tories are not willing to "tell the truth about the devastating impact of Brexit".
The MP said: "Brexit has been a total disaster for Scotland and the UK.
"It has cost our economy billions of pounds, damaged trade, raised prices, squeezed household budgets - and sent the UK hurtling down a one-way street to long-term decline.
"The fact is, the UK economic and cost-of-living crisis is here to stay with Brexit.
"With the Tories and Labour Party both signed up to this economic self-sabotage, independence is the only way to regain Scotland's place in Europe and get back on the path to prosperity.
"No one can trust anything Rishi Sunak or Keir Starmer have to say on the economy, when neither of them are willing to tell the truth about the devastating impact of Brexit.
"They're the Thelma and Louise of UK politics - driving the UK economy off a cliff and urging voters to hold tight rather than change course.
"Scotland needs independence to escape the damage of Westminster control - and grasp the opportunity to grow our economy in Europe."
Meanwhile, public opinion captured the weekend before Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister shows split perceptions of the Tory leader.
Some 34% viewed him favourably while 38% viewed him unfavourably.
His ratings are ahead of other leadership contenders from the weekend, including Boris Johnson (28% favourable, 50% unfavourable) and Penny Mordaunt (24%, 33%).
🧵NEW @IpsosUK shows the scale of challenges facing Sunak in coming months... Challenge 1: A deeply pessimistic public ❌69% say the country is heading in the wrong direction - the highest since 2019 election 👍Only 9% say things are heading in the right direction pic.twitter.com/Ud1Lzr77Qv
— Cameron Garrett (@CameronGarrett_) October 27, 2022
It's similar for Keir Starmer who received a boost in his ratings despite opinion remaining divided.
Two in five (38%, +10 since September) are favourable towards him with a similar proportion unfavourable (36%, -6).
This is the first time his net favourability (+2) has been positive since November 2020.
Ipsos director of politics Keiran Pedley said: "These findings show the scale of the political challenge Rishi Sunak faces as he enters Downing Street.
"Almost 7 in 10 Britons think things are heading in the wrong direction. Meanwhile, a clear majority are unfavourable towards the Conservative Party and the public are ‘net positive’ about the Labour Party for the first time in this series.
"However, Mr Sunak will be encouraged at his own personal poll ratings improving and time will tell if negative perceptions of the Conservative Party are fixed, or if they dissipate following the departure of Liz Truss."
These findings are taken from two polls. For most of the findings, Ipsos UK interviewed a representative sample of 1111 people in the UK aged 18 and above. Interviews were conducted online from 21-24 October 2022.
For the Starmer versus Sunak head-to-head scores, Ipsos UK interviewed a representative sample of 1061 Britons aged 18-75. Interviews were conducted online from 21-22 October 2022.
