A MAJORITY of voters think violence towards MPs is a price worth paying to get the Brexit outcome they want, a "chilling" new poll has found.

The survey, carried out by YouGov, found 71 per cent of Leave voters in England, 60% in Scotland and 70% in Wales believed violence towards MPs would be worth it.

Meanwhile, among Remain voters, 58% in England, 53% in Scotland and 56% in Wales thought violence towards MPs was a ‘price worth paying’ for Britain to stay in the EU.

The disturbing results are contained in the latest Future of England Survey, which explores people’s attitudes to the constitution across England, Scotland and Wales.

Professor Richard Wyn Jones, co-director of the survey and director of Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre, said he was shaken by the findings.

It comes more than three years after Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right terrorist.

Mr Wyn Jones said:  “It’s not often that one finds oneself shaken by research findings, but in this case it’s hard to not be genuinely shocked - not only by the fact that so many think that violence is a likely consequence of Brexit, but that so many on either side of the Brexit divide seem to think that such events might be ‘worth it’ in order to secure their preferred outcome.

“Given that we appear to be on the brink of another general election in which further polarisation could be a deliberate campaign strategy for some parties, these findings should give all of us pause for thought and underline the importance of responsible and measured debate.”

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar said the results were “chilling”.

He added: “It is horrifying and deeply upsetting to think that people believe violence against MPs is a ‘price worth paying’.

“Violence can never be justified, no matter what is at stake in our politics.

“Amid rising prejudice and division, it is incumbent on us all to honour Jo Cox’s memory and focus not on the things that divide us, but on the things we have in common.”

YouGov surveyed 1,594 adults aged 18 and over in England, 1,503 in Wales, and 1,006 in Scotland.

Both Leave and Remain voters said protests in which members of the public are badly injured were a "price worth paying" to secure their desired outcome.

Among Leavers, it was 69% in England, 62% in Scotland and 70% in Wales. On the Remain side, it was 57% in England, 56% in Scotland and 57% in Wales.

Meanwhile, majorities in England, Scotland and Wales think violence towards MPs and violent protests in which people are badly injured are ‘likely to occur’ if Brexit takes place.

It comes amid rising tensions over Brexit, with a parliamentary report recently warning threats of murder, rape and other violence against MPs have become “commonplace”.

On Saturday, Jacob Rees-Mogg faced shouts of "traitor" and "Nazi" as he walked with his 12-year-old son.

Further results in the Future of England Survey reveal the possible consequences for the Union.

In 2017, the same research team was among the first to show that a majority of Leavers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland regarded the unravelling of the Northern Ireland peace process and a second Scottish independence referendum with a Yes vote as a ‘price worth paying’ for Brexit.

New findings show half of all those polled in Wales (47%), more than half in England (52%) and almost two thirds in Scotland (61%) think Brexit is likely to lead to the break-up of the UK.

Among Leave voters, 74% in England, 74% in Wales and 59% in Scotland believe the break-up of the UK would be worth it to take back control via Brexit. 

Similar proportions of Remain voters believe that undermining faith in the Union would be a price worth paying to stay in the EU.

Meanwhile, majorities of Remain voters in England, Scotland and Wales think English independence is a price worth paying to stay in the EU.

Professor Ailsa Henderson of the University of Edinburgh, co-director of the Future of England Survey, said the findings show Brexit is “putting the Union under considerable strain”.

She said: “Both sides are prepared to fundamentally rewrite the rules of politics as we know it to get what they want.

“Staying in the EU will likely decrease faith in the union. Brexit could well change its borders.

“Individuals might profess an attachment to the union, but Brexit has revealed most in Britain to be ambivalent unionists who now see it as expendable to get their own way on Brexit.  

“Because this holds for both Leave and Remain voters, it confirms just how much the Brexit debate has polarised the electorates in Britain.

“These findings show that polarisation is reshaping how we argue with one another, and what we argue about, but could reshape the union as well.”

Elsewhere, a majority of voters – 52% in England, 52% in Wales, and 61% in Scotland – think the UK will become substantially poorer as a result of Brexit.

However, more than three quarters of Leave voters believe that it will be worth it (76% in England,76% in Scotland and 81% in Wales).