A leading pollster in the UK, Sir John Curtice, has stated that the majority of British voters consider Brexit a significant letdown and would opt to reverse it if given the chance in a new referendum. According to Curtice, who is an experienced academic from the University of Oxford, the decision to exit the European Union has not proven to be successful over time. He noted that a “modest majority” of individuals now wish to overturn the decision due to concerns about the economy and increased immigration.
In his new publication, ‘The Brexit Effect’ by Sir Anthony Seldon, Curtice highlighted that the 2016 referendum failed to settle the debate on whether the UK should remain within the EU. He mentioned that a considerable number of voters no longer see the benefits of being outside the EU. This viewpoint is supported by recent research from YouGov, which indicates a notable rise in support for rejoining the EU.
A recent poll conducted by YouGov among 4,067 adults revealed that 56 percent of respondents back the rejoin movement, with 36 percent strongly supporting it and 20 percent somewhat supporting it. The opposition to rejoining has decreased, with only 35 percent of people expressing opposition, divided into 10 percent strongly opposed and 25 percent somewhat opposed.
The discussion around rejoining the EU gained traction after former health secretary Wes Streeting expressed his willingness to rejoin if he became the Labour leader. Streeting emphasized that leaving the EU had been a grave error, leading to decreased wealth, power, and control for the UK.
While some Labour figures like Andy Burnham acknowledge the damage caused by leaving the EU, they are hesitant to revisit the debate. Keir Starmer’s government remains firm in its opposition to rejoining the EU, opting instead for a reset in relations with a summit scheduled for July to pursue this approach.