EU Referendum Poll for Kent: Kentish People vs People of Kent

A new poll conducted across Kent is suggesting that the couty as a whole wants to leave the EU. Interestingly, Kentish People (those west of the River Medway) are more likely to want to remain whereas People of Kent (east of the River Medway) are in favour of staying in! Kent is divided...

The poll suggests 57% leave to 43% stay. Hardly surprising in a county that elected a UKIP MP in 2014 and has them as the main opposition on the county council.

More interesting is the breakdown by constituency:

Constituency	Remain	Leave	Undecided
Ashford	27%	53%	20%
Canterbury	39%	38%	22%
Chatham and Aylesford	26%	57%	17%
Dartford	38%	45%	17%
Dover	32%	56%	12%
Folkestone & Hythe	34%	49%	17%
Gillingham and Rainham	31%	48%	20%
Gravesham	41%	33%	26%
Maidstone & the Weald	34%	41%	25%
North Thanet	58%	32%	10%
Rochester & Strood	29%	54%	17%
Sevenoaks	54%	43%	3%
Sittingbourne & Sheppey	19%	62%	19%
South Thanet	32%	47%	21%
Tonbridge & Malling	50%	38%	12%
Tunbridge Wells	55%	37%	8%

The split between East and West Kent is not arbitary, it is along affluence and proximity to London. It suggests that the article by Lisa Mckensie in the Guardian yesterday which argued that the working classes are keen to 'stick it to the man' have a lot of weight.

I hope that simple frustration and anger is not going to see the country leave the EU but the paucity of debate suggests that rational decisions based on principles are struggling, especially here in Kent.