Voters in Sunderland in northeast England voiced hope on Monday that the Brexit Party’s strong showing in European elections would trigger a quick break with the EU, expressing anger and disbelief at Britain’s two main parties.
The polls delivered major losses for both the ruling Conservatives — who have twice delayed Britain’s scheduled departure from the EU — and the main opposition Labour, which has remained deeply ambiguous over Brexit.
In the North East region, the Brexit Party won 38.7 per cent of the vote in last week’s election — its highest result in the country.
“The sooner we get out the better,” said Stephen James, a 55-year-old council worker in the former shipbuilding city, a traditional stronghold for the Labour Party.
“I’m Labour through and through but you can’t trust Labour or Conservatives any more now. They’re just backstabbing each other,” he said -- a comment on the months of bickering in the British parliament over Brexit.
The Brexit Party has said it will seek a better deal with Brussels than the one negotiated by outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May but will embrace no-deal if it does not get one. Several contenders to replace May have the same position. Sunderland played a starring role in Britain’s seismic decision to leave the European Union in 2016.
The city’s 61-per cent vote in favour of Brexit during the referendum signalled early on where the nation was heading on the night of June 23 and celebrations at the count were beamed worldwide.