Women support remaining in the EU by 12-point margin, poll finds

Almost three-quarters of those polled were concerned promises made by politicians on Brexit will be broken

Only 13 per cent of women think it is likely Britain will manage to secure a good Brexit deal (EPA)

Women back staying in the European Union (EU) by a 12-point margin, according to a new poll.

A total of 56 per cent of women questioned by YouGov for the People’s Vote campaign supported remaining in the bloc in comparison to 44 per cent who were happy for Britain to leave.

The margin was tighter among men as 51 per cent backed remain, compared to 49 per cent who still wanted to leave.

The findings came before the launch of a new campaign group called Women for a People’s Vote which aims to “put women’s voices at the front” of the Brexit debate.

The poll found that almost three-quarters of women (73 per cent) are concerned that promises made by politicians will be broken while only 13 per cent of women think it is likely Britain will manage to secure a good deal before it leaves the bloc.

A total of 83 per cent are of the opinion that the process of leaving the EU has been a mess, with 86 per cent of women aged over 45 despairing the most about the process.

The survey found that after Brexit, 35 per cent believe the NHS will worsen, 44 per cent think the economy will be weaker and 45 per cent think taxes will increase.

It also suggested that more than half (58 per cent) of women excluding don’t knows supported a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal.

YouGov polled 18,772 adults online between 31 July and 20 August.

The research was published to coincide with the Women for a People’s Vote launch. The group argues that the Brexit debate has been “dominated by men” through the under-representation of women in the media and a lack of females in senior civil service and political positions.

“Women have been shut out from the Brexit debate since the very beginning. In the run-up to the referendum, voices were not heard and issues that affected women were not discussed,” campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez said. ”Since Article 50 has been triggered nothing has changed and male voices and concerns continue to dominate. It’s not good enough. Women are set to be disproportionately affected by Brexit: we will be silenced no longer.”

Ms Criado-Perez will be joined by comedian and political commentator Ayesha Hazarika, columnist Rachel Johnson and chairwoman of the Royal College of Nursing Maria Trewern to talk about the effect of Brexit and call for a People’s Vote on the final deal.

Additional reporting by Press Association