Ten years after the Brexit referendum divided the country, a remarkable new poll suggests Britain may finally have reached a verdict on one of the most consequential political decisions in modern history and it is not the verdict Brexit supporters were hoping for.
Research by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) has found overwhelming support for rebuilding ties with the European Union, with nearly 70% of Britons believing Brexit has damaged the country on the issues that matter most to them.
The findings paint a stark picture of a nation increasingly disillusioned with the promises made during the 2016 referendum campaign. Rather than delivering prosperity, control and opportunity, voters now believe Brexit has made many of Britain’s challenges worse.
According to the survey, 66% of respondents said Brexit had negatively affected the cost of living, while 65% believed it had harmed the economy. Majorities also said leaving the EU had worsened opportunities for young people, damaged trade and even exacerbated illegal immigration—ironically one of the central issues used to justify Brexit in the first place.
Perhaps most revealing was the response when people were asked to identify the benefits of Brexit. The most common answer was simply “don’t know”. Close behind was “none of the above”. For many voters, the promised advantages appear increasingly difficult to identify.
The shift in public opinion extends beyond economics. Three-quarters of Britons now support closer ties with the European Union, while two-thirds want stronger trade and economic integration. Even more strikingly, 63% of respondents, including a majority of those who voted Leave, said they would accept freedom of movement in exchange for improved trading relations.
For years, freedom of movement was portrayed by Brexit campaigners as politically untouchable. The new polling suggests that argument has largely collapsed. Even among voters who cited immigration as their primary concern, significant numbers now favour restoring closer links with Europe if it benefits the economy.
The survey also reveals that Britain’s European neighbours have not shut the door. Across 15 EU countries, 66% of respondents said they would support Britain rejoining the bloc or viewed membership positively. Leaders including France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb have all publicly indicated they would welcome Britain’s return.
The findings expose a growing disconnect between public opinion and political caution in Westminster. While Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer continues to insist there will be no return to the EU, customs union or single market, the data suggests the public mood has shifted dramatically beyond the political consensus.
Brexit was sold as a solution to Britain’s problems. A decade later, many voters appear to believe it has become part of those problems instead.
The referendum result of 2016 may remain legally settled, but politically and culturally the debate is far from over. If this polling is any indication, the question confronting Britain’s leaders is no longer whether Brexit succeeded but how much closer the country should move back towards Europe after years of disappointment.
For a growing majority of Britons, the answer seems increasingly clear: they want their European future back.
