Five years after officially exiting the European Union, many Britons remain deeply disappointed with Brexit. Recent YouGov surveys indicate that most people view its impact on the economy, businesses, and the UK's global reputation as negative. Rather than fulfilling the promises made by the Vote Leave campaign, Brexit has led many to question whether the decision was the right one.
'Take Back Control'—But at What Cost?
A central pledge of the Brexit campaign was that the UK would "take back control" of its laws and sovereignty. However, only 31% of Britons believe leaving the EU has strengthened the country’s control over its own laws. Meanwhile, 35% think Brexit has made no difference, and 21% feel it has actually weakened UK sovereignty.
Regarding Brexit’s impact on the COVID-19 pandemic, opinions are mixed—23% say it had a positive effect, 30% believe it made things worse, and 32% see no impact. However, economic concerns are the most pressing, with 67% stating that Brexit has increased the cost of living and 65% believing it has harmed the economy. Similarly, 64% of respondents feel Brexit has negatively affected UK businesses.
The UK's diplomatic standing has also taken a hit, with 61% saying Brexit has damaged relations with Europe and 52% believing it has hurt the UK's global reputation. The NHS, which was promised additional funding as part of the Leave campaign, is also viewed as a casualty, with 52% of Britons saying it has suffered due to Brexit.
Amongst Leave voters, there remains some optimism, particularly regarding control over UK laws (45%) and the pandemic response (40%). However, dissatisfaction remains high on other issues, particularly trade and immigration, with 50% of Leave voters admitting Brexit has negatively impacted immigration levels.
Support for Brexit at an All-Time Low
Public sentiment towards Brexit has shifted significantly since 2016. A YouGov poll found that only 30% of Britons now believe leaving the EU was the right decision—a stark contrast to the 55% who voted in favour of Brexit during the 2016 referendum.
Support for Brexit is now at its lowest recorded level, with 62% of Britons labelling it a failure. Only 11% believe it has been a success. Even amongst those who voted Leave, 32% admit Brexit has been more of a failure than a success, while 38% believe it has been neither.
Younger generations are particularly opposed to Brexit. Amongst 18-24-year-olds, who were too young to vote in 2016, a staggering 75% believe the UK made the wrong decision.
Despite the widespread disappointment, there is little immediate appetite for rejoining the EU. While 55% of Britons would support rejoining, only 8% consider it a top priority, indicating that while many regret Brexit, reversing it is not seen as an urgent political issue. Instead, 64% of Britons would prefer to strengthen ties with the EU without formally rejoining.
Economic and Diplomatic Struggles
Since Brexit, the UK has faced a series of economic and diplomatic challenges. Trade barriers have disrupted supply chains, businesses have faced higher costs, and exports to the EU have declined. The cost of living crisis, driven in part by Brexit-related inflation, continues to put pressure on households, while foreign investment in the UK has slowed due to the loss of access to the EU single market.
On the diplomatic front, relations with European allies have become strained, and Britain's global influence has diminished. While the UK has sought to forge new trade agreements, many of these deals have been criticised for failing to compensate for lost EU trade opportunities.
The Future of the UK's Relationship with the EU
Despite being promoted as a step toward greater independence and prosperity, recent polls indicate that many Britons now doubt whether Brexit was worth the cost. The economic consequences, diplomatic strains, and political divisions have fueled increasing calls for a closer relationship with the EU—though not necessarily full reintegration.
Five years later, Brexit remains one of the most contentious and polarizing topics in British politics. Whether the UK will stay on its current course or work to restore ties with the EU remains uncertain. However, one thing is clear: most Britons no longer believe Brexit was the right decision.
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