LONDON — Conservative members would rather break up the United Kingdom, and destroy their own party, than stay in the European Union, according to a new poll. The latest YouGov poll of Conservative party members, who will soon be charged with choosing the UK's next prime minister, suggests they would opt to see both Scotland and Northern Ireland leave the UK, if it was the only way to ensure the UK leaves the EU. Sixty three per cent say they would rather Scotland left the UK if it secured Brexit, with 61% willing to accept "significant damage" to the economy and 59% willing to see Northern Ireland leave the UK. A further 54% would want Brexit to go ahead even if it meant the destruction of their own party. The poll suggests that Brexit has hardened the divide over Europe in the party. It found that 46% of members would now be "happy" to have Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage as their leader, with just 40% unhappy. Overall, Conservative party members now see the Brexit Party as their biggest threat, with 67% describing it as a "big threat" compared to just 34% saying the same of Labour. Views on Europe appear to have hardened significantly in the race to succeed Theresa May as prime minister, with a majority now saying it would be unacceptable for their next leader to be opposed to leaving the EU without a deal. Brexit has put strains on the constituent nations of the UK with questions over the post-Brexit border with Ireland and Scottish independence dominating UK political discussion since Britain voted to leave. The poll findings come ahead of the second round of the Conservative leadership contest. Tory MPs will on Tuesday afternoon vote on who should proceed to the next round, with the former foreign secretary Boris Johnson expected to win by a large margin. The remaining candidates will then take place in a televised hustings event on BBC 1 at 20.00 (BST.)
UK party hardliners would rather Scotland and Northern Ireland left the Tory and their own party face destruction than see Brexit stopped, according to a YouGov poll. The party member poll showed 63% preferring Scotland left the Tory to ensure Brexit, 59% said they were willing for Northern Ireland to leave and 61% said they could face “significant damage” to the Tory economy as a result. Meanwhile, 54% said they would accept the destruction of their party to see Brexit happen. Other questions revealed 67% considered the Brexit Party the Tories’ biggest threat, compared to 34% citing Labour.