38 Degrees & a customs union: survey feedback

Over 130,000 of us took part in a survey in March to decide together whether 38 Degrees should campaign on the issue of a customs union with the EU.

Here are the results:

Should 38 Degrees campaign on the issue of a customs union?

• 67% of us voted to campaign for a customs union with the EU
• 17% of us voted to campaign against a customs union with the EU
• 11% of us voted to stay neutral and not campaign on this at all
• 6% of us said we didn’t know

If 38 Degrees decided to campaign for a customs union with the EU, how would you feel?

• 67% of us said “Good”
• 9% of us said “Angry, I would leave 38 Degrees”
• 8% of us said “Ok – I disagree but would still want to remain a part of 38 Degrees”
• 8% of us said “Don’t know – I need more information before knowing how I’d feel”
• 7% of us said “Disappointed – I don’t think 38 Degrees should choose a side”

If 38 Degrees decided to campaign against a customs union with the EU, how would you feel?

• 33% of us said “Okay – I disagree but would still want to remain part of 38 Degrees”
• 24% of us said “Angry – I would leave 38 Degrees”
• 18% of us said “Good”
• 13% of us said “Don’t know – I need more information before knowing how I’d feel”
• 12% of us said “Disappointed – I don’t think 38 Degrees should choose a side”

If 38 Degrees decided not to get involved with this issue, how would you feel?

• 44% of us said “Disappointed – I want 38 Degrees to campaign on this”
• 27% of us said “Okay – I disagree but would still want to remain part of 38 Degrees”
• 13% of us said “Good – 38 Degrees shouldn’t choose a side”
• 10% of us said “Don’t know – I need more information before knowing how I’d feel”
• 6% of us said “Angry – I would leave 38 Degrees”

In the last few weeks, the group of rebel MPs who were kicking up a fuss about the customs union have started to backtrack. And the key votes have all been postponed. This means that right now, the opportunity for us to influence this issue is much smaller than when we launched the survey.

Together with the results of the poll, this means that 38 Degrees won’t be campaigning for or against a customs union right now. We know we’re strongest when we agree overwhelmingly on the way forward together. Right now, there’s no good reason to divide us.

Brexit isn’t an easy issue to campaign on. It’s divided families, workplaces and friends across the country. Now, a long process of negotiation, debate, and complex law-making lies ahead.

But within days of the referendum, large numbers of 38 Degrees members from both sides of the Brexit debate started to express a desire to work together to try to influence Brexit for the better. Now, we’re working together and with our MPs to stand up for the principles we care about. Together, we’ll continue working to make sure the public gets a proper say in how Brexit happens.

Please comment your thoughts below!