More than 80 % of Britons wanted European Union ( EU ) commitments protecting the environment to be " maintained or strengthened " post - Brexit , according to a poll by Friends of the Earth . Campaigner for the environmental group More than 80 per cent of British public want to see UK government maintain or improve EU rules that protect our natural environment post-Brexit Britain's exit from the European Union should not lead to a watering down of environmental laws protecting the UK's countryside and wildlife, the UK public believes. Samuel Lowe said in a statement that the poll " completely undermines those who argue that Brexit should lead to a watering - down of the EU 's environmental commitments . " The survey also found that 57 % of respondents wanted farming subsidies to be linked to rewarding " environmental stewardship " , while 81 % backed the retention of the EU ban on neonicotinoid pesticides .
More than 80 % of Britons wanted European Union ( EU ) commitments protecting the environment to be " maintained or strengthened " post - Brexit , according to a poll by Friends of the Earth . Campaigner for the environmental group Samuel Lowe said in a statement that the poll " completely undermines those who argue that Brexit should lead to a watering - down of the EU 's environmental commitments . " The survey also found that 57 % of respondents wanted farming subsidies to be linked to rewarding " environmental stewardship " , while 81 % backed the retention of the EU ban on neonicotinoid pesticides .