ComRes launches Brexit unit

The unit will comprise of polling and European policy experts from across ComRes and its aim is to help clients understand how Brexit will impact on their sector during the uncertainty and change.

The Unit has already begun to build a knowledge bank of Brexit data, comprising both attitudinal data perceptions from across a wide range of published sources, as well as conducting original research to help understand the opinion landscape as the Brexit process starts.

New research from ComRes among 150 MPs found that nine out of 10 expect the UK to leave the Single Market and six out of 10 MPs expect the UK not to be part of the Customs Union.

Seven in 10 MPs expect net migration to the UK to decline post-Brexit and more than eight in 10 expect the UK to prioritise skilled migration over unskilled migration from the EU.

The survey revealed deep-seated political divisions by party, especially over the prospect of the UK being required to make contributions to the EU budget post-Brexit. 

Overall the House of Commons is divided: 46% believe the UK will have to continue payments and 42% do not. However, 64% of Labour MPs believe that the UK will be required to continue payments, while 62% of Conservative MPs think the opposite.

Andrew Hawkins, ComRes chairman, said: “No organisation will be unaffected by Brexit. It is the biggest issue most of our clients have ever faced, so the best way we can support them is to help identify future trends, understand opinion and anticipate issues of controversy or misaligned expectations.

“We believe organisations can thrive post-Brexit, but they need to have expert insight and advice.”