Almost three quarters of students want Final Say referendum, new survey finds

Exclusive: NUS poll shows strong backing for Final Say referendum amid ongoing doubts over Theresa May's ability to get deal through Parliament

Almost three quarters of students back a fresh referendum on Brexit, a new survey has found.

The poll by the National Union of Students (NUS) found that 71 per cent said the public should be given a Final Say on the Brexit deal, while just 19 per cent disagreed.

Those who wanted a fresh vote were significantly more likely to be women and full-time students, while opponents of a second public poll were more likely to be men and part-time students.

Despite students overwhelmingly backing another referendum, the survey also found that they were fed up with the ongoing debate about Brexit.

52 per cent said senior politicians were talking too much about Britain's withdrawal from the EU – by far the highest ranking for any issue. The second highest was immigration, which 36 per cent of students thought was receiving too much attention.

The survey suggests a growing number of students are joining calls for a fresh referendum as opposition to Theresa May's Brexit deal mounts. A similar poll 18 months ago found 63 per cent of students backed another public vote - 8 per cent lower than now.

The NUS officially backed calls for a People’s Vote at its annual conference in March, pledging to "campaign for a second referendum on the deal negotiated on Brexit”.

Commenting on the latest polling, Shakira Martin, president of the NUS, told The Independent: “I am proud to say that the National Union of Students was the first national organisation to come out in support of a People's Vote back in March this year.

“Since then, students and young people have been leading the way in calling for a People's Vote.

“This polling shows that the National Union of Students and students' unions are totally in tune with their students - they know this Brexit is bad for them and want a People's Vote".

Pressure for the public to be allowed to decide the terms of Brexit has grown amid doubts over Ms May’s ability to get her deal through Parliament.

With as many as 100 Conservative MPs threatening to join with the opposition parties in voting against the deal, the prime minister faces the prospect of a crushing defeat when the Commons votes on the proposed agreement on 11 December.

Ms May has refused to be drawn on what would happen in such a scenario, insisting her focus is on winning the "meaningful vote”. But unless the government brings forward a new proposal or Parliament intervenes, Britain is on course to crash out to the EU next March without a deal.

Supporters of a fresh referendum say going back to the public it is the only way to break the deadlock in Parliament.

The Independent’s petition in favour of a Final Say vote has been signed by more than 1 million people.