Most Tory MPs think that Theresa May is doing a bad job with Brexit

Prime minister Theresa May. Picture: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher

An annual survey of MPs has found that 70% of MPs believe the prime minister has done a bad job in Brexit talks with the EU.

The survey has also found that just 34% of her own MPs in the Conservative party believe May has done a good job, with almost half (47%) believing she performed poorly.

The results of the survey of MPs, carried out by the UK in a Changing Europe along with the Mile End Institute at the Queen Mary University of London, appears to show a hardening of views in the past 12 months.

More than half (55%) of Conservative MPs think there are still viable solutions to the proposed backstop, and that the difficulties surrounding the Irish border were exaggerated.

Tory MPs remain ‘bullish’ about the prospects for trade with countries outside the EU after Brexit, with 70% believing the UK will be able to quickly sign deals with major powers such as China and the US.

Brexiteer MPs were highly sceptical about the likelihood of disruption in the event of no deal Brexit in most areas except with the value of sterling and disruption and ports.

44% of those MPs believed sterling would drop, while 32% believed there would be disruption at ports.

A total of 50% of MPs overall believe that medical shortages and a substantial decline in house prices are likely.

Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, said: ‘None of this will make easy reading for the prime minister. The attitudes of Leave-voting Tories appear to be hardening rather than softening and they seem amazingly unfazed by the difficulties presented by both the Irish border issue and a no deal Brexit.’

Professor Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe, said: ‘The House of Commons is clearly very divided. It is hard to see, given the numbers, how the prime minister can get her deal through. That being said, it is hard to see how any outcome can command a majority.’

Best for Britain boss Eloise Todd said: ‘The view that the prime minister has done a poor job is not just a view held by MPs but by the rest of the country too.

‘Theresa May’s Brexit deal is a bad deal, no matter if you voted Leave or Remain.

‘Sadly this damning indictment is a widely held view throughout the country as people see politics is in a Brexit gridlock. We must put the question back to the people now we know what Brexit would really mean.’