by If another referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the EU were held today, it would lead to a reversal of Brexit, according to a new poll.
A clear majority of all voters say they would choose to return to the EU.
It is noteworthy that there is little support for canceling the UK’s decision to reduce its ties with Brussels among Generation Z – who were too young to take part in the 2016 referendum.
The public think that Brexit has made almost everything worse, from the economy to immigration, the cost of living, the NHS, wages, exports and Britain’s position abroad in the hope of keeping Scotland and Northern Ireland in the union.
Although Brexit has slipped in the league table of public concerns, it is expected that there will be a second referendum at some point.
The results of a survey by Redfield & Wilton follow Sir Keir Starmer’s moves to strengthen Britain’s ties with the EU.
Despite his strong opposition to Brexit, the prime minister has said he does not intend to review the decision based on a 52-48 majority in the referendum eight years ago.
Speaking to reporters in Wales, two days before July’s general election, Sir Kier said: “I have been very clear about not re-entering the EU, the single market, or the customs union, or not return to freedom of movement.
“I am equally clear that I think we can get a better deal than the botched deal we got under Boris Johnson – in terms of trade, research and development and security.”
Sir Keir’s supporters say a second referendum would be divisive and undermine his main goal of repairing public finances and public services.
Other prominent Labor figures were more vocal.
In an interview with The Independent Former editor-in-chief Geordie Greig, former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Brexit had failed and had led to “unprecedented mass immigration”.
The Redfield & Wilton survey gives fresh ammunition to those who say Brexit has failed.
A total of 56 percent say they would vote to rejoin the EU if another referendum were held today.
This includes almost one in four (23 per cent) of those who voted Leave in 2016.
A total of 44 percent say they would vote to remain. This includes 17 per cent who voted Remain eight years ago.
In fact, the number wanting to rejoin is even higher than in the past. It has fallen five percent since June, before the election.
Among 18- to 24-year-olds, including Gen Z, a total of 61 percent would vote for reunification. Only 28 percent would vote to remain.
25 to 44-year-olds have similar support for re-entering the EU. Support for the over 55s is more significant for staying out of the EU.
More than half (52 per cent) of voters want another Brexit referendum within five years, including 73 per cent of those who backed Remain in 2016.
A total of 34 percent are against a second referendum.
For the first time since Redfield & Wilton began conducting such polls in 2021, voters think another referendum is likely in the next 10 years.
A total of 34 percent said they expect a second referendum within ten years; 31 percent disagreed.
Regardless of whether people want another referendum, they overwhelmingly believe that things in Britain have gotten worse as a direct consequence of Brexit – across the board.
When asked whether the economy is stronger or weaker than it would have been if Brexit had not happened, 43 percent said it is weaker; 22 percent said it is stronger.
When similar questions were raised on a wide range of other issues, it painted the same picture of decline due to Brexit:
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39 per cent said immigration is higher because of Brexit versus 21 per cent who said it is lower
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58 percent said the cost of living is higher compared to 18 percent who said it is lower
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31 percent said wages are lower versus 18 percent who said they are higher
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41 per cent said it made it harder for Britain to sell goods abroad against 17 per cent who said it made it easier
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40 per cent said Britain had less influence on the world stage compared to 21 per cent who said it had more
The survey clearly suggests that voters believe they have been misled by Brexiteers like Boris Johnson, who famously toured the nation in a red bus with a slogan saying the NHS would get £ An extra 350m per week when the UK left the EU.
A total of 45 per cent say the NHS has become worse thanks to Brexit against 13 per cent who say it has improved.
When asked whether Brexit has had a negative or positive impact on the UK so far, 34 per cent said it was negative versus 31 per cent who said it was positive.
By a small margin, voters think it is more likely that Scotland will one day become independent and that Northern Ireland will join the Republic of Ireland due to Brexit.
Despite the predominantly negative poll verdict on Brexit, 35 per cent said they gave the UK more say in its affairs against 30 per cent who said the country had less say, in line with a mantra of “take control back” the Brexiteers.
And fewer than one in four consider Brexit a “very important” issue.
Furthermore, while its current impact is seen as negative, 38 percent said they believe Brexit would have a positive outcome for Britain in the future against 33 percent who said it would be negative.
A total of 44 per cent said they viewed the 2016 referendum as the final word on Brexit against 40 per cent who said they did not believe it settled the matter.
Philip van Scheltinga, of Redfield & Wilton, said: “The poll numbers are certainly in favor of ‘reunification’ but they do not suggest a slam dunk.
“Although voters are mostly disappointed about Brexit, they have other priorities.
“It is for the government to consider whether it wants to change the UK’s relationship with the EU to align with those higher priorities.”
Mr Van Scheltinga questioned whether Sir Keir would want to use his “hard-earned political capital” to re-open the Brexit debate at the risk of “really damaging” success.
Redfield & Wilton interviewed 2,000 British adults online on 19 August.
