Attitudes towards the EU in the United Kingdom

Abstract:

This survey finds that 18% of respondents in the United Kingdom (UK) felt informed about the European Union (EU) and 83% said they knew little or nothing about the EU. Only 4% of the British public “strongly” agreed that the information available on EU affairs was simple and clear, and 34% agreed to some extent. 48% perceived a negative bias in press reports about the EU. 54% of the British respondents indicated that they did not want to receive more information about the EU. 43% of British respondents mainly expect their government to inform them about the EU and its decisions. Respondents were divided about the “image” of the EU: of those taking a position, 37% had a rather positive image, while 40% took the opposite view. 37% of respondents felt the economic benefits of the UK being a member of the EU outweighed the costs and 40% took an opposite viewpoint. Politically, 44% felt that the UK had a lot or a fair amount of influence on the way EU laws are made, but 51% felt that the UK had little or very little influence.

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