Britain's Brexit regrets grow, yet enthusiasm for rejoining remains muted

A decade after the referendum that reshaped Britain's politics, economy and relationship with Europe, a majority of the public now believes the country made the wrong choice in voting to leave the European Union.

New polling from YouGov suggests that support for Brexit has fallen significantly since the historic vote of June 2016, with 57 per cent of Britons now saying the UK was wrong to leave the EU, compared with just 30 per cent who continue to believe it was the right decision. The findings come as Britain approaches the tenth anniversary of a referendum that continues to cast a long shadow over national life.

The survey paints a picture of a country that has become increasingly sceptical about Brexit's legacy. Six in ten respondents describe Brexit as more of a failure than a success, while only 12 per cent believe it has delivered on its promises. Even among those who voted to leave the European Union, enthusiasm has softened. Nearly a quarter of Leave voters now say Brexit was the wrong choice, while only a minority believe the project can be considered an outright success.

The figures are particularly striking given the political realignment that followed the referendum. Brexit transformed British politics, propelled Boris Johnson to Downing Street, fractured traditional party loyalties and fuelled the rise of movements that continue to shape Westminster today. Yet despite those upheavals, public confidence in the decision itself appears to have weakened.

The poll suggests that many voters distinguish between supporting Brexit in principle and believing it was delivered successfully. Among those who view Brexit as a failure, the Conservative Party and Boris Johnson are most commonly identified as being responsible for the outcome. Large numbers also assign blame to Nigel Farage, Theresa May and Rishi Sunak, reflecting widespread frustration with how successive governments managed Britain's departure from the European Union.

The findings also reveal a growing appetite for closer ties with Europe, although there remains less agreement on precisely what form that relationship should take.

A majority of respondents support rejoining the European Union in principle, with 55 per cent backing a return to membership and 34 per cent opposed. However, support becomes far less certain when voters are presented with the possibility that Britain might have to rejoin under different terms than those it previously enjoyed. Under such circumstances, support falls sharply and opinion becomes more divided.

Perhaps more significant is the emergence of a broad consensus around a middle path. Nearly six in ten Britons favour a closer relationship with the European Union without rejoining either the bloc itself, the single market or the customs union. Unlike the more polarising question of full membership, this approach attracts support from both Leave and Remain voters, suggesting that many people may now be looking for a pragmatic reset rather than another constitutional battle.

Economic concerns remain central to the debate. More than half of those surveyed believe that rejoining the European Union would benefit Britain's economy, businesses and international trade. Yet voters are less convinced that such gains would translate into improvements in their own household finances. Only around three in ten believe they would personally be better off if Britain returned to the EU, highlighting the continuing gap between perceptions of national prosperity and personal economic experience.

The findings underline how dramatically attitudes have shifted since 2016. At the time, Brexit was presented by supporters as an opportunity to restore sovereignty, control immigration and unlock new economic opportunities. For opponents, it represented a leap into uncertainty. Ten years later, neither side can claim complete vindication, but the public mood appears to have moved decisively away from the optimism that characterised the referendum campaign.

Whether that translates into political momentum for rejoining the European Union remains doubtful. While support for closer integration has grown, voters appear reluctant to make European membership a priority amid concerns over economic growth, public services, migration and living standards.

Ten years after Britain voted to leave, the debate has changed. The question is no longer whether Brexit happened. Instead, it is whether the country can find a stable relationship with Europe that reflects the realities of the present rather than the arguments of the past.

Source: YouGov survey of 2,114 adults in Great Britain, conducted 2–3 June 2026. Must credit YouGov.