European Parliament elections: A quarter of public would boycott poll

A quarter of the public say they would boycott European Parliament elections if they happen in the UK in May, a Sky Data poll reveals.

Some 26% of Britons say they would sit out elections in protest, while 47% say they would vote in them, and 17% admit they would not vote in them anyway.

A higher proportion say they would vote than turned out in the 2014 EU elections in the UK - 36% of potential voters turned out five years ago, though usually more claim they will get to the ballot box than actually do so.

Four in ten (43%) say they will be angry if European Parliament elections go ahead (30% saying they would be 'very angry'), while 28% would be pleased and 23% would not mind either way - 5% were unsure.

And more would prefer a no-deal Brexit than a long delay to Brexit with the UK participating in European Parliament elections.

Forced to choose between no deal, Theresa May's deal or a long delay with EU elections, 41% prefer no deal, 35% a long delay with EU elections, with just 16% favouring the prime minister's plan - nine percent answered 'don't know'.

In a letter to EU Council President Donald Tusk, Mrs May revealed the UK will start preparations to hold the European elections at the end of May.

She also asked to delay Brexit until 30 June 2019 to give time for MPs to agree a withdrawal deal, but Mr Tusk has formally asked officials from member countries of the EU to endorse a longer extension until 31 March 2020.