A SOUTHAMPTON MP has blasted a poll suggesting the city would now vote to Remain if a new Brexit referendum took place.

The research, undertaken by Pro-European Union campaign groups Best for Britain and Hope Not Hate, suggests that the “will of the people of Southampton has changed”, and the majority would now prefer the UK to stay a member of the European Union.

However, this is something strongly refuted by Itchen member for parliament Royston Smith, labelling the survey as “nonsense”.

In 2016, the city voted to leave the EU by 53.8 per cent to 46.2 per cent, with 107,665 residents (68.1 per cent) turning out to vote.

But now, the new study says that there is a swing of almost 11 per cent to Remain. It estimates that 51 per cent of the electorate in Itchen and 60 per cent in Test would now vote to remain in the EU.

Across the nation, it suggests that 53 per cent of the British public would vote to stay.

However, Mr Smith has questioned the integrity of the information, which surveyed 15,000 voters from across the 112 constituencies that voted Leave.

“I don’t trust this so called poll commissioned by Remain groups,” he said.

“It only polled around 150 people in Southampton Itchen and for it to be accurate they would need to have all been people who voted to leave in the referendum.

“I talk to more than 150 people each week and I don’t see any move to remain at all, quite the opposite. Many Remain voters have not accepted the result of the referendum or any poll saying the country wants to leave the EU, but when their own poll suggests a change in attitudes they quote it endlessly.

“It’s double standards and people will see through it.”

However, MP for Southampton Test Alan Whitehead, who defied party orders to vote against the Brexit bill last year, said the new poll showed a frustration amongst voters.

“I do think that, in my constituency especially, you can notice a change in the attitudes of residents,” he added.

“I would put that down to the fact that people are clearly bemused at the amount of progress being made on a deal for coming out the EU, as well as the increasing possibility of a no-deal.

“There are increasing fears and frustration (from constituents) that this is not what they signed up for.”

The UK is set to leave the European Union on March 29, 2019.