Majority believe UK would be better off quitting the EU

A new poll shows that the majority of Britons believe the UK would be better off quitting the EU.

The poll by the Bruges Group think-tank revealed that 71% said Britain should join the European Free Trade Association instead. EFTA, unlike the EU would not have jurisdiction over the UK’s agriculture, fisheries, home affairs or justice policies.

Local MEP Paul Nuttall said: "This survey provides fresh evidence that so many people in this country want to get away from the grip of Brussels.

"People are increasingly recognising that leaving would enable us to trade more freely with the rest of the world and that there is a viable alternative to EU membership," said Mr Nuttall, UKIP deputy leader.

“The option of re-joining EFTA and becoming like Norway and Switzerland is increasingly popular with the British public. We would still have access to the single market but could negotiate free trade agreements with other countries," explained Mr Nuttall.

"It would also mean saving billions of pounds as we would not have to hand over taxpayers money to be a member of the EU and would not have to implement all the costly regulations that it churns out week after week," he added.