Five years on from Britain’s official exit from the EU, public sentiment about Brexit has reached a new low, according to a damning YouGov poll.
Just three in 10 Britons (30%) now believe leaving the EU was the right decision, compared to 55% who say it was a mistake. That’s the lowest level of support since YouGov began tracking this question following the 2016 referendum.
In comparison, back in January 2020 when Brexit was made official, 40% of people thought it was the right choice, while 47% disagreed.
Fast forward to today, and Brits aren’t just having second thoughts—they’re losing faith in the entire post-Brexit plan.
Brits say Brexit is a failure
The survey found that 62% of Britons now view Brexit as more of a failure than a success, with only 11% describing it as successful. A further 20% sit on the fence, calling it neither a win nor a disaster.
Perhaps most strikingly, even Leave voters are feeling disillusioned. While 66% of Leave voters still say voting to leave was the right decision, 32% admit Brexit has gone badly so far, compared to just 22% who think it’s been a success.
On the flip side, 88% of Remain voters still firmly believe Brexit was the wrong choice, and young Britons are particularly sceptical. Among those aged 18-24, three-quarters think leaving the EU was a mistake, with only 10% supporting the decision.
Keir Starmer’s lukewarm EU policy under scrutiny
The polling comes on the heels of a critical report by UK in a Changing Europe (UKICE), marking the fifth anniversary of Brexit. Titled “The Brexit Files”, the report doesn’t hold back in calling out the lack of progress in trade, immigration, and defence post-Brexit.
The report also takes aim at Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him of having a vague and unambitious approach to mending relations with Brussels.
Despite Labour’s emphasis on economic growth, the report highlights that Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ October Budget didn’t mention Brexit once—a glaring omission, according to the think tank.
A nation divided—still
The latest survey confirms that Brexit remains one of the most divisive issues in the UK. While many Leave voters still hold on to their decision, growing frustration with the lack of clear post-Brexit benefits suggests that even they are starting to question whether the promises of 2016 will ever be fulfilled.
With public opinion shifting, the question now is whether the government will be forced to revisit the post-Brexit plan or continue to tread water while discontent grows.
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