WORD ON THE STREET: What Basingstoke thinks about a no-deal Brexit

And today is no exception, following the news that the Queen will suspend Parliament to stop MPs blocking a no-deal Brexit.

With the new deadline to exit the European Union rapidly approaching, our reporter Aimee Smith took to the streets of Basingstoke to find out how the public are feeling.

We asked those out in Festival Place this afternoon (Wednesday) to ask the pressing question: would they back a no-deal Brexit?

And it seems some residents of the borough are irritated with subject altogether.

Rebeca Megway, 32 a career who lives in the town, said: “I just think it is all rubbish.”

While Michael Turner, 25, a care assistant from Basingstoke, said: “I’m not into politics full stop so no I wouldn’t.”

Pictured: Diane Brassington

Pictured: Sam Osborn

Housewife Sandra Tasker, 61, from Oakley, said: “I just want to go as I’m fed up of it as it is causing all these problems and all this scare mongering and nothing is moving.”

Others don't want Brexit to happen at all.

Retired Mary Evans, 78, from Ramsdell, said: “No I don’t back a no deal Brexit as we wanted to stay in the EU.”

Jeff Baraddock, 68, who is retired and from Basingstoke, said: “No I don’t, because it’s going to leave us economically very worse off and it will distance us even more from Europe.”

And Anna Cannon, 50, a support worker, added: “I don’t back Brexit at all, I don’t think we should get out of the EU. I think it is a big mistake.”

Diane Brassington, 61, who is retired and from Oakley, said: “I think a no deal would cause a lot of problems to various elements.”

While Elaine Painter, from Kent, said: "I don't think it would help our situation." The 37-year-old sales manager added: "Most of the things I have read and watched just says that all the small businesses are going to struggle and the prices are going to soar which is not going to be ideal.”

Railway guard Sam Osbon, 28, from Andover, agreed. He said: “No I wouldn't back a no-deal Brexit because I don’t think it would be good for anyone.”

Teibe Habtom, 57, a community carer from Basingstoke said: “I would choose a deal, as no deal means that we get out with nothing.”

Others are less concerned. Len Lewis, a 36-year-old musician from Basingstoke said: “It doesn’t really bother me either way to be honest.”

Pictured: Anna Cannon

Pictured: Len Lewis

And Michael White, 75, retired from Oakley, said: “It doesn’t worry me either way, I’m sort of in the middle because I don’t think it’s been explained enough.”

And at the other end of the spectrum a number of people welcomed the prospect of exiting the EU without a deal in place.

Retired Derick Golding, 72, who lives in Basingstoke, said: “Yes. I want a full Brexit.”

Lee Molson, 43, who is in the British Armed Forces and is from Sheffield said: “Yeah, because you’ve got to have leverage.”

And funeral arranger Lauren Pournell, 50, from Tadley said: "If it is the only way to get it through then yeah, I do back a no-deal Brexit."

Managing director Graham Hayman, 47, added: "Yes, as I think I have to honour what people voted for."

While Paul Hyman, 72, from Nottingham, said: “Yeah I do. We’ve been playing for three years or more so it’s time to do something, and all the complaints that it might be disastrous, we’re this far down the line we’ve just got to go for it.”

Jane Hunter, on the other hand, said it was simply time to do something. The 61-year-old housekeeper from Basingstoke said: “To be honest I just want them to get on with it, no deal or deal. I don’t mind either way at all, I just think it’s been going on for years.”

Pictured: Micheal Turner

Pictured: Derick Golding