Most Conservative party members would rather see Northern Ireland break away from the UK than see Brexit averted.
A YouGov survey of 892 Tory party members found that 59% would prefer to see Northern Ireland leave the UK if it was a necessary sacrifice to make sure Brexit happened, while 63% would rather see Scotland become independent.
"Party members are willing to sacrifice a fundamental tenant of Conservative belief in order to bring about Brexit: unionism,* YouGove data journalist Matthew Smith said.
Sinn Féin's John O'Dowd claimed the poll confirmed that an increasing number of people were supportive of a united Ireland.
“Theresa May herself said last year that she would expect an Irish unity poll to be passed, and with such overwhelming support for reunification within the self-declared Conservative and Unionist Party, it is obviously time to begin preparing for an Irish unity referendum,” he said.
54% of Tory members would also be willing to see their own party destroyed if it meant securing Brexit. The only thing members would be willing to give up Brexit for is to keep Jeremy Corbyn out of Number 10 (51%) https://t.co/9iJKlB292v pic.twitter.com/c6rnG930H5
— YouGov (@YouGov) June 18, 2019
The research showed that nothing is sacred now as the Conservative Party membership seeks to secure Brexit – except keeping Jeremy Corbyn out of Number 10.
Tory members are so focused on accomplishing Brexit that a majority of 54% would be willing to see the destruction of their own party if necessary.
Only a third (36%) put the party’s preservation above taking Britain out of the EU, the You Gov survey showed.
Some 61% would rather Brexit took place even if it caused "significant damage" to the economy.
"There is, however, still one thing that Conservative members fear more than the prospect of Brexit slipping through their fingers: Jeremy Corbyn. Half (51%) of Conservative party members would rather call the whole thing off rather than allow the Labour leader to ascend to the position of prime minister. Nevertheless, four in ten (39%) are so committed to Brexit that they would want to see it brought about even if it brought their party’s nemesis came to power," data journalist Matthew Smith added.
YouGov surveyed 892 Conservative Party members on June 11-14. Opinium carried out an online survey of 610 adults who watched the Channel 4 debate on June 17.
The full report can be found here.
Another survey from Opinium found that a third of those who watched at least some of the Channel 4 leadership debate on Sunday thought Rory Stewart performed best.
Jeremy Hunt was second on 18%, Dominic Raab third on 10%, Sajid Javid had 9% and Michael Gove was last with 6%.
Among Tory voters who watched the show, 24% thought Mr Stewart triumphed, narrowly ahead of Mr Hunt on 22%.
