As Brexit drags on, Brits want a rule-breaking leader to overhaul political system
Brits want a strong leader who is willing to break rules to push through wide-reaching reforms to the political system, according to new data.
Read more: Business optimism hits seven-year low as Brexit approaches
Three years of Brexit turmoil since the EU referendum has left voters’ confidence in politics at a 15-year low, a poll by the Hansard Society has found.
That is even lower than in the aftermath of 2009’s expenses scandal, leading people to call for change.
More than half of voters would back a strong, rule-breaking leader, while 72 per cent of the 2,000 people canvassed by pollster Ipsos Mori said that Westminster needs “quite a lot” or “a great deal” of improvement.
Just 25 per cent expressed confidence in the UK’s current political leaders as Brexit drags on.
Britain is not close to backing an exit deal more than a week after the original 29 March deadline to leave the bloc.
“People are pessimistic about the country’s problems and their possible solution, with sizeable numbers willing to entertain radical political changes,” the Hansard Society said.
Dr Ruth Fox, director of the Hansard Society, warned the survey shows that rising dissatisfaction is leading people to consider “radical” options.
“Preferring a strong leader who is willing to break the rules, or thinking that the government should be able to tackle the country’s problems without worrying about the approval of parliament, would challenge core tenets of our democracy,” she added.
“The public feel strongly that the system of governing favours the rich and powerful and that political parties don’t care about the average person.
“Unless something changes, this is a potentially toxic recipe for the future of British politics.”
Today Theresa May is set to continue Brexit discussions with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who will only back a deal that sees the UK stay in the customs union.
Two MPs quit last week in response to the cross-party talks as hardline Brexiters railed against the Prime Minister.
But in a video address yesterday May defended her decision to engage with Labour, saying: “We have no choice but to reach out across the House of Commons.”
Read more: Cabinet Brexiter Penny Mordaunt: We must not get locked into Euro elections
She added that parliament has rejected her deal three times already “and right now I can’t see them accepting it”.
Ipsos Mori conducted the poll between 30 November and 12 December.