Two-Thirds Of Brits Believe Brexit Has Made Every Issue They Care About Worse, Survey Finds

Two-thirds of Brits think Brexit has made every single issue they care about worse, a new survey has found.

A poll from YouGov and Mandate Research for the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) has revealed that 66% of the general public think leaving the EU was “negative” for the UK.

They believe leaving the bloc has made issues such as the cost of living,economic growth, opportunities for young people, trade and managing illegal immigration harder.

Three-quarters (75%) of Brits now want a closer relationship with the EU, according to the poll, including 49% of Reform UK voters.

A further 63% of Brits, including a large proportion of Reform UK and 2016 ‘Leave’ voters, would now accept return of freedom of movement in return for a closer trading relationship with the EU.

Even opposition to UK involvement in a European army has decreased, with 43% of respondents supporting the idea.

Almost two-thirds (63%) want the government to focus on improving relations with the EU over links with the US.

Only 66% of Leave voters say they would vote to stay out of the EU in any new referendum.

It’s been almost exactly a decade on from the 2016 referendum on the UK’s membership in the EU.

Hundreds also marched through London on Saturday calling to rejoin the EU.

The survey comes as Andy Burnham is expected to challenge Keir Starmer’s leadership in the coming days after winning the Makerfield by-election.

He said last September that he wanted to see the UK back in the EU within his lifetime, but he has since pledged not to “re-run” Brexit arguments.

Co-founder and director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, Mark Leonard, said Brits are realising Brexit has “undermined” the UK’s ability to respond to other pressing issues.

He said: “Ten years ago, Brexit was the insurgent vehicle for a nation rejecting the status quo.

“However, a decade on, Brits realise their hopes for a better life outside the EU are going unfulfilled and that Brexit is undermining the UK’s ability to manage the issues voters care about most.

“This data shows that the vast majority of citizens is open to a closer relationship.

“Rather than refighting the battles of 2016 the government must push or a new relationship with Europe that speaks directly to the everyday concerns of citizens on cost of living, migration and security.

“Rather than talking about red lines we should have a green light to a debate about how Europe can help rebuild the UK and its global influence for the 2030s and 2040s.”

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