'It won't kill us': Voters voice support for no-deal Brexit

Voters in Sunderland in northeast England voiced hope on Monday that the Brexit Party's strong showing in European elections would trigger a quick break with the EU, expressing anger and disbelief at Britain's two main parties.

The polls delivered major losses for both the ruling Conservatives -- who have twice delayed Britain's scheduled departure from the EU -- and the main opposition Labour, which has remained deeply ambiguous over Brexit.

In the North East region, where Sunderland is located, the Brexit Party won 38.7 per cent of the vote in last week's election -- its highest result in the country.

"The sooner we get out the better," said Stephen James, a 55-year-old council worker in the former shipbuilding city, a traditional stronghold for the Labour Party.

"I'm Labour through and through but you can't trust Labour or Conservatives any more now. They're just backstabbing each other," he said -- a comment on the months of bickering in the British parliament over Brexit.

The Brexit Party has said it will seek a better deal with Brussels than the one negotiated by outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May but will embrace no-deal if it does not get one.

Several contenders to replace May have the same position.

Sunderland played a starring role in Britain's seismic decision to leave the European Union in 2016.

The city's 61-per cent vote in favour of Brexit during the referendum signalled early on where the nation was heading on the night of June 23 and celebrations at the count were beamed worldwide.

The years of wrangling since the referendum over how, or even if, Britain leaves have certainly dampened the high spirits of that 2016 June night.

"I think Farage should have won more myself because the Conservatives were lying to us and Labour don't know what they want to do," said Brian Welsh, a 66-year-old retiree.

"If they haven't got a deal, go for no deal. Simple. They haven't got a clue basically," he said, adding that the EU was trying to keep Britain because it was a "cash cow".

Business leaders have warned of severe disruption if Britain leaves the EU with no deal in place and finance minister Philip Hammond warned he could vote down his government in order to prevent this from happening.

Welsh admitted that a no-deal Brexit "might be hard for a year or two" but said Britain had been through worse.

Alan Bell, 67, a former chef, agreed, pointing out that EU leaders have ruled out a renegotiation of the Brexit deal agreed by May with the other EU leaders last year.

"It's not going to kill us if we come out without a deal," he said.

"The Europeans have already said there's no more negotiating. What you've got is what you've got."
"What would another referendum bring? I know exactly what the result will be in Sunderland. It would be to come out again. All my mates would vote to come out again."