Poll shows majority of Britons view Brexit as a mistake
A recent YouGov poll indicates that a significant majority of Britons believe Brexit was a mistake, with 57 per cent of respondents expressing regret over the decision to leave the European Union, reports BritPanorama.
This sentiment has been stable, with the figure consistently above 50 per cent since mid-2022 but not exceeding 58 per cent. Conversely, only 30 per cent of participants in the latest survey maintained that the decision to leave was correct.
Labour leader Andy Burnham has publicly stated his openness to reversing Brexit, suggesting he might advocate for rejoining the EU. He has criticized the current government’s handling of Brexit, claiming it has led to a decade of “drift and division.” The sentiment appears widespread; support for the initial Brexit decision has not passed 50 per cent in any YouGov survey in the years following the 2016 referendum.
The approval rate reached a peak of 47 per cent immediately after the referendum but has since continuously declined, stabilizing under 40 per cent from early 2022 and hitting a low of 29 per cent in May 2026. Notably, while 64 per cent of individuals who voted Leave reaffirm their choice, approximately 23 per cent now believe the UK made an error in leaving the EU.
In stark contrast, 89 per cent of Remain voters assert that the Brexit decision was incorrect, with only 6 per cent acknowledging it as the right choice. Among those who supported Reform UK during the 2024 general election, 80 per cent believe leaving the EU was justified, while that belief is significantly lower among Labour (13 per cent), Liberal Democrat (13 per cent), and Green Party (10 per cent) supporters.
When queried about the notion of rejoining the EU, YouGov’s latest findings reveal that 55 per cent of adults are in favor, with opposition at 34 per cent. However, if the rejoining process were to exclude previous opt-outs from EU policy, support would diminish to 35 per cent while opposition would increase to 43 per cent.
Opinium’s survey in May shows that only 36 per cent of respondents believe the UK should pursue rejoining the EU. Additionally, 21 per cent suggested that the country should maintain its current status outside the EU while seeking a closer relationship.
A separate Ipsos poll conducted in May found that 52 per cent would vote in favor of a referendum to seek rejoining the EU, whereas 33 per cent would oppose it. The inclination to apply for rejoining rises to 58 per cent among likely referendum voters, with 37 per cent against and 4 per cent undecided.
The Ipsos survey further highlighted that younger voters (ages 18 to 34) are the most supportive of rejoining, with 68 per cent in favor, compared to 58 per cent of those aged 35 to 54 and only 37 per cent of respondents aged 55 and above. Support is also highest among Green (86 per cent), Labour (84 per cent), and Liberal Democrat (80 per cent) backers, while those backing the Conservatives (38 per cent) and Reform UK (17 per cent) show considerably lower levels of support.
YouGov surveyed 2,114 British adults on 2 and 3 June; Opinium interviewed 2,050 UK adults from 20-22 May; while Ipsos polled 1,137 British adults between 14-20 May 2026.
The evolving public opinion on Brexit reveals a deepening divide within the electorate, as the question of potential rejoining the EU continues to generate discussion.
