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Brits in Sweden 'least informed' about EU vote

The Local Sweden
The Local Sweden - [email protected]
Brits in Sweden 'least informed' about EU vote
Brits in Sweden rely on UK media for information about the referendum, but feel uninformed. Photo (from 2011): Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Almost half of respondents living in Sweden (47.4 percent) answered ‘no’ to a survey question: “Do you feel well-informed about Brexit?”, the highest proportion of expats to do so.

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The main reason they felt ill-informed was ‘missing information’. And yet, 91.2 percent of expats in Sweden felt that the result will impact them personally.

The results come from a survey of 1,800 British expats across Europe, conducted by InterNations, a networking site for expats. Across Europe, almost three quarters of those surveyed consider themselves well-informed about the June 23rd referendum.

91 percent of the expats consulted British media for information on Brexit, with three quarters listing it as their primary source. Other trusted sources of information were English-language and foreign media in their country of residence, and family and friends.

More than 40 percent of the expats surveyed by InterNations were not planning to vote. The disenfranchisement of Brits who have lived overseas for more than 15 years emerged as the main reason, affecting over 40 percent of non-voters. However, others said their primary reason for not voting was that it was 'too complicated' (18 percent) or that there was 'missing information' (14 percent).

Among those who were eligible and planning to vote, almost three quarters of British expats (72 percent) living abroad said they were planning to vote to remain in the European Union - a result which is significantly higher than the polls of UK voters. Just 19 percent were in favour of Britain leaving the EU, with a further nine percent undecided.

The results echo those of The Local's survey of 2,710 expats across Europe in April, which showed that a majority of those eligible planned to vote, and of those expats, 67 percent planned to vote 'Remain'.

READ MORE: Could Brits in Europe put the brakes on Brexit?

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