A significant portion of the population in the UK would support rejoining the European Union if a second Brexit referendum were to take place. According to a recent Deltapoll survey conducted for The Mirror, nearly 58% of potential voters in a hypothetical second referendum indicated they would choose to return to the EU. This sentiment is particularly strong among younger demographics, with over 86% of 18 to 24-year-olds in favor of rejoining the bloc.
Support for reversing Brexit varies among different political affiliations, with Conservative and Reform party supporters predominantly backing the current status quo, while Labour and Liberal Democrat backers show a strong preference for rejoining the EU. Geographically, all regions in the UK show a leaning towards rejoining the EU, with Scotland exhibiting the highest support at 73%, followed by London and Wales.
Recent efforts by Keir Starmer to mend relationships with EU nations have been noted, including the negotiation of a trade deal with Brussels and the announcement of the UK’s participation in the Erasmus+ program for student exchanges in Europe. While Starmer has expressed openness to closer ties with the EU, he has ruled out the possibility of reversing Brexit, emphasizing a desire for a strengthened relationship without rejoining the EU.
The debate around closer alignment with the EU has sparked differing opinions within the UK government, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting and TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak advocating for increased ties with the EU due to concerns about external alliances. Despite some calls for reevaluation, the government has reiterated its stance on not rejoining the single market and customs union, maintaining a commitment to strengthening relations with the EU while upholding defined red lines.