4 SEPTEMBER 2019

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A new poll published today by the Fawcett Society reveals that just one in five women voters (21%), compared with 36% of men, describe themselves as ‘relaxed’ about the prospect of a no deal Brexit. The majority of both women and men (67%) are either anxious or unsure at the prospect. The new data also finds that men are nearly two times as likely to say they are relaxed about the impact that it is having on their own wellbeing than women (32% compared with 17%).

The ComRes poll also reveals women are significantly less confident than men in government’s and their employers’ plans for what happens after Brexit day. While confidence overall is lacking, less than a quarter of women (24%) have confidence in the Government’s planning compared with a third (33%) of men. When it comes to the impact of Brexit on their own jobs, women in work are feeling far less secure than men – just 36% have confidence in their employer’s Brexit plans, compared with almost half of men (48%).

Unsurprisingly, women are less comfortable with the impact on their family. Nearly two in five men (37%) are relaxed about them and their family's future if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, in comparison with just a fifth of women (21%). Women are more are relaxed about their family’s future if the UK left with a deal (28% compared with 41% of men), or if the UK did not leave (31% compared with 43% of men), although in both scenarios around a third of women remain anxious about their family’s future.

Women and men have different views on the Prime Minister’s decision to prorogue Parliament, with women less relaxed than men (23% vs 37%). But significantly, fewer than 1 in 10 voters, women (8%) or men (9%), has any confidence in politicians’ ability to work together across party lines, indicating the failure, until now, of Remain politicians to present a united front.

Commenting on the findings, Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society said:

“Boris Johnson has a problem with women voters.  The Government is increasingly offering them the prospect of a No Deal exit from the EU, which they are clearly much less relaxed about than men. 

“Women are also less confident than men about plans for what is to follow after Brexit day and worried about the impact of no deal on their wellbeing and their family’s future.  All the evidence suggests they are right to be as the impact on the economy and women’s rights would be severe.

“Significantly, 6 in 10 women (59%) and over half of men (54%) lack confidence in public services’ readiness for what happens after Brexit day. The truth is when it comes to the public debate, very little attention is being paid to what will happen after 31^st October.

“Added to that, women are also less likely to say that they have confidence that the Government is focussing on issues that matter to them.  This suggests the shift to a domestic agenda may be the right move but if the price is a No Deal Brexit then many women will remain unconvinced.”

Other key findings – on leaving the EU and the impact of Brexit

• 38% of women and 35% of men are anxious about the impact Brexit is having on their wellbeing.
• Over a third of men (36%) are relaxed about the prospect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on the 31st October, in comparison to just one in five women (21%).
• Nearly two in five men (37%) are relaxed about the prospect of the UK leaving the European Union with a deal on the 31st October, in comparison to just a quarter of women (26%).
• A third of men (32%) are relaxed about the effect that Brexit is having on their own wellbeing, in comparison to less than a fifth of women (17%).

On confidence in government and plans for Brexit

• A third of men (31%) say they have confidence that the government is acting in their best interests at the moment, in comparison to just a quarter (26%) of women.
• A third of men (31%) say they have confidence that the government is focusing on the issues that matter to them, in comparison to less than a quarter (23%) of women.
• A quarter of men (23%) say they have confidence that the government will secure a new Brexit deal before the UK leaves the EU, in comparison to less than a fifth (17%) of women
• A third of men (33%) say they have confidence in the government’s plan for what happens after the 31st October Brexit deadline, in comparison to a quarter (24%) of women.
• Over a third of men (35%) say they have confidence in businesses’ plans for what happens after the 31st October Brexit deadline, in comparison to less than a quarter (23%) of women.
• Three in five women (59%) say they lack confidence in public services’ plans for what happens after the October Brexit deadline, in comparison to just over half (54%) of men.
• Less than one in ten of both men and women say they have confidence in politicians’ ability to work together across party lines rather than opposing each other (9% and 8% respectively).

Of those adults who it is applicable, half of men (48%) say they have confidence in their own employer’s plan for what happens after the October 31st Brexit deadline, in comparison to just over a third of women (36%).

See the polling data tables here. You can download the full press release here.

For more information or interviews contact:  

Abby Richardson – [email protected] / 07876 378 733   
Nathalie Golden – [email protected] / 07769 66 66 27

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The Fawcett Society set up Face Her Future, a coalition of women's and equality organisations campaigning to defend women's rights post-Brexit, and chart a course for a more equal, progressive future. If you believe we should not lose our hard-earned rights when Britain leaves the European Union, support our work by becoming a Fawcett member today.