UK poll points to broad Brexit dissatisfaction among British voters

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UK Brexit dissatisfaction poll

Highlights

Up to two thirds of British voters in a May ECFR poll believe Brexit has negatively impacted the UK, raising living costs and damaging the economy.
Survey shows 56% of respondents feel post-Brexit migration policy has failed and favor reinstating freedom of movement with the EU for closer trade ties.
Three quarters of Britons now support closer EU relations, while two-thirds of 15 EU countries support a potential future UK return to the bloc.

Polling findings on Brexit and public sentiment

As reported by the European Council on Foreign Relations, polling conducted from May 7 to 14 among more than 2,000 respondents shows that up to two thirds of British voters believe Brexit has had a negative impact on the country. Two thirds say leaving the EU has pushed up the cost of living and damaged the economy.

ECFR head Mark Leonard says many Britons now see their expectations of a better life outside the EU going unmet, while Brexit is weakening the UK's ability to address issues voters care about most. The survey finds that 56% think leaving the EU is bad for tackling illegal migration, trade and red tape, while 57% say it has reduced opportunities for young people and 57% believe it was wrong for Britain to leave the bloc.

Three quarters of respondents now want closer ties with the EU, according to the think tank. The poll also shows Britons prefer Europe over the U.S. as a security partner, with only 18% viewing the U.S. as an ally.

Implications for UK policy and EU relations

Migration control was a central theme of the Brexit campaign, but the findings suggest many voters are dissatisfied with the post-Brexit approach. The survey shows 56% think the UK's migration policy after leaving the EU has failed, and they support reinstating freedom of movement with the EU in exchange for a closer trading relationship.

A separate ECFR poll across 15 EU countries shows two-thirds support for Britain to return to the EU in the future. The results point to a shift in both UK and European attitudes that could shape future debate over trade, mobility and security cooperation.

Our earlier coverage of the 10-year anniversary of Brexit examined how the UK is still facing weaker growth, softer trade performance and heightened political fragmentation compared with pre-2016 expectations. We also outlined why the debate is increasingly shifting toward rebuilding pragmatic economic links with the EU through tailored agreements—without an immediate push to rejoin—and how migration and other trade-offs remain central to that discussion.

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