A prominent pollster in the UK, Sir John Curtice, stated that the majority of British voters consider Brexit a significant letdown and would opt to reverse it through a new referendum if given the chance. According to Curtice, who is an academic at the University of Oxford with extensive experience in polling, the decision to exit the European Union has not proven successful over time. He highlighted that a majority of individuals attribute economic destabilization and increased immigration to Brexit and would prefer to see the decision overturned.
In his recent publication titled ‘The Brexit Effect’ by Sir Anthony Seldon, Curtice emphasized that the 2016 referendum failed to definitively settle the debate on the UK’s EU membership. He pointed out that a considerable number of voters now view being outside the EU as unfavorable, with growing support for rejoining the union evident in recent years.
Research conducted by YouGov revealed a surge in backing for the rejoin movement, with 56 percent of respondents expressing support for rejoining the EU. Those in favor were divided into 36 percent who strongly support rejoining and 20 percent who somewhat support it. Conversely, opposition to rejoining has decreased, with only 35 percent of individuals against the idea.
The discussion around rejoining the EU gained traction following statements made by Wes Streeting, a former health secretary, who advocated for the UK’s return to EU membership. Despite Streeting’s position, other Labour leadership contenders like Andy Burnham have refrained from supporting immediate reentry, emphasizing the need to move forward rather than revisiting past arguments.
The current stance of Keir Starmer’s government opposes rejoining the EU, opting instead for a reset in relations with the bloc. A pivotal summit aimed at reshaping the UK-EU relationship is scheduled for July, reflecting the government’s approach to maintaining distance from rejoining discussions.
