Brexit Legacy Polling 2026
Post-Brexit opinion polling — was it worth it? Regret trends, trade attitudes, sector impacts, and the ongoing political legacy of the 2016 referendum.
Was Brexit Worth It? — 2026 Polling
When asked whether Brexit was worth it, the most recent polls consistently show a plurality of British adults say it was not worth it. YouGov polling from May 2026 puts the “not worth it” figure at around 45%, compared to 38% who say it was worth it and 17% who are unsure. This represents a significant shift from the immediate post-referendum period, when opinion was more evenly split.
Crucially, Brexit regret is not simply a Remain voter phenomenon. Polling by Ipsos and YouGov both show that around one-in-five people who voted Leave in 2016 now say Brexit has not delivered what they hoped for — particularly on immigration, where net migration remains at near-record levels despite post-Brexit border controls.
Key Brexit legacy polling findings — May 2026
- 45% say Brexit was not worth it — up from ~40% in 2022
- 38% say Brexit was worth it — down from ~44% in 2022
- ~20% of 2016 Leave voters now express regret
- 63% say Brexit has harmed UK trade with the EU
- 71% say Brexit has made the cost of living worse
- 41% say Brexit has reduced immigration as hoped (but net migration remains near record)
- Only 29% actively support rejoining the EU
- 52% want a closer UK-EU relationship within the current framework
Brexit Regret Trend: 2016 to 2026
The “worth it” share has steadily eroded since 2016. The gap between “not worth it” and “worth it” peaked at 15 points in 2023 as post-Brexit trade friction, NHS staffing shortages, and the cost of living crisis converged. The gap has narrowed slightly since as the cost-of-living crisis displaced Brexit as the dominant political grievance.
| Period | Worth it | Not worth it | Gap | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 (referendum) | 52% | 48% | +4 Leave | Actual vote result |
| 2019 | 46% | 43% | +3 | Pre-election polls |
| 2021 | 40% | 47% | −7 | Post-transition; first signs of trade friction |
| 2022 | 38% | 46% | −8 | Truss mini-budget; economic anxiety |
| 2023 | 38% | 53% | −15 | Peak regret; trade + cost of living |
| 2024 | 38% | 48% | −10 | Election year; Brexit less salient |
| 2025 | 38% | 46% | −8 | Labour government; EU reset talks |
| 2026 (May) | 38% | 45% | −7 | Current: stable Bregret majority |
Source: YouGov tracker. 2016 figure is actual Leave/Remain vote share, not “worth it” question.
Brexit Economic Impact: Voter Perceptions
Separate from the “worth it” question, polling on specific Brexit outcomes reveals more granular opinion. Voters are sharply negative about economic and trade impacts, more divided on immigration, and very uncertain about any positive Brexit “dividend.”
| Statement about Brexit’s impact | Agree | Disagree |
|---|---|---|
| Brexit has harmed UK trade with the EU | 63% | 18% |
| Brexit has made the cost of living worse | 71% | 11% |
| Brexit has made the NHS worse due to staff loss | 64% | 14% |
| Brexit has reduced immigration as hoped | 41% | 45% |
| Brexit has restored UK sovereignty meaningfully | 39% | 44% |
| Brexit has been good for the UK economy overall | 19% | 58% |
| Brexit has had no significant positive effect | 34% | 38% |
| Brexit has strengthened UK fishing industry | 18% | 52% |
Source: YouGov/Ipsos composite, May 2026. Remainder = neither/DK.
Brexit Worth It? By Party
Based on 2026 YouGov/Ipsos polling among current party supporters.
What kind of UK-EU relationship do you want? YouGov, June 2026.
Brexit “Worth It?” by Age, Region and 2016 Vote — May 2026
The age and regional patterns established in 2016 have persisted and in some cases intensified. Among 18–34 year olds — few of whom were old enough to vote in 2016 — 68% say Brexit was not worth it. Among over-65s, the verdict is still nearly even: 46% worth it, 38% not worth it.
| Group | Worth it | Not worth it | DK | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18–24 | 16% | 68% | 16% | Mostly too young to vote in 2016 |
| 25–34 | 20% | 64% | 16% | Strong Remain cohort |
| 35–49 | 33% | 49% | 18% | Mixed 2016 vote; cost of living impact |
| 50–64 | 42% | 44% | 14% | Lean Leave; some regret |
| 65+ | 46% | 38% | 16% | Strongest Leave cohort still |
| London | 22% | 60% | 18% | Strongest Remain area in 2016 |
| South East | 39% | 44% | 17% | Mixed; Blue Wall area |
| Midlands | 43% | 42% | 15% | Near-even; core Leave territory |
| North of England | 40% | 44% | 16% | Red Wall now Reform territory |
| Scotland | 17% | 65% | 18% | Voted 62% Remain in 2016 |
| Wales | 36% | 44% | 20% | Voted Leave; now mixed regret |
| 2016 Leave voters | 66% | 24% | 10% | ~1 in 4 Leave voters now regret |
| 2016 Remain voters | 8% | 73% | 19% | Persistent Remain bloc |
| Did not vote 2016 | 29% | 49% | 22% | Were younger/excluded voters |
Source: YouGov/Ipsos composite, May 2026. Was Brexit worth it? Rounding applies.
Rejoining the EU: The Gap Between Regret and Action
The gap between Brexit regret (45%) and rejoin support (29%) is the defining feature of UK public opinion in 2026. Being negative about Brexit outcomes does not automatically translate into support for EU membership — the political, constitutional and economic complexity of rejoining, combined with uncertainty about what EU membership would now mean for the UK, suppresses support for formal re-entry.
The modal position in 2026 polling is not “rejoin” or “stay out” but a looser category: closer ties within the current framework of leaving. 52% support a veterinary agreement, reduced non-tariff barriers, regulatory alignment, and greater cooperation on security and foreign policy — without formal EU membership or freedom of movement.
Labour’s EU “reset” policy — seeking improved relations without rejoining — aligns more closely with median public opinion than either Reform UK’s further-distance position or the Lib Dems’ rejoin alignment. 61% support the UK joining the EU single market for goods only (without full membership); 39% oppose. Freedom of movement remains a red line: 54% oppose restoring it even as part of a closer relationship.
Explore More
UK-EU Relations Polling
Detailed polling on single market access, trade deals, security cooperation and the UK-EU relationship reset.
Immigration Polling
61% want fewer migrants. Brexit promised immigration control — how voters now view the record.
Cost of Living Polling
71% say Brexit made cost of living worse. The link between Brexit outcomes and household finance polling.
Reform UK Polling
Reform UK polls at 37% among 2016 Leave voters. The successor party to the Brexit movement’s political energy.
Conservative Polling
Conservatives at 19% — how losing the Leave coalition to Reform explains much of the party’s collapse.
All Topics
Browse all polling topic deep-dives — immigration, housing, NHS, economy and more.
Do most British voters regret Brexit?
Not quite a majority, but more voters say Brexit was “not worth it” (45%) than say it was (38%) as of May 2026. This is a significant shift from 2016–2019 when the split was near-even. The remaining 17% are undecided. Around one-in-five 2016 Leave voters now say Brexit has not delivered what they hoped for. See current VI polling →
Which party voters are most pro-Brexit in 2026?
Reform UK voters are the most strongly pro-Brexit, with 82% saying it was worth it. Conservative voters are also broadly pro-Brexit (71%). By contrast, only 16% of Labour voters and 12% of Green voters say Brexit was worth it. The Leave coalition has largely migrated from Conservative to Reform UK, making Brexit-positive voters a Reform stronghold. Reform UK polling →
Could the UK rejoin the EU?
Polling shows only around 29% actively support rejoining the EU — significantly less than the 45% who say Brexit was not worth it. The gap reflects the political complexity of reversal: freedom of movement (opposed by 54%), a required accession process, and the absence of any major party campaigning for membership. The Lib Dems are closest but avoid making it a central commitment. No imminent rejoin is politically possible or polled as majority-supported. UK-EU relations polling →
How do different age groups view Brexit in 2026?
The age divide from 2016 has persisted and intensified. Among 18–34 year olds, 68% say Brexit was not worth it. Among over-65s, 46% say it was worth it and 38% say it was not — a near-even split compared to a large Leave majority in 2016. Demographic replacement means the pro-Remain retrospective majority will grow structurally over time regardless of political events.
What has Brexit actually done to UK trade and the economy?
63% of voters say Brexit has harmed UK trade with the EU and 71% say it has made the cost of living worse. Academic research (NIESR, Resolution Foundation) estimates Brexit has reduced UK GDP by 4–5% compared to a counterfactual. However, causation is contested: the 2022 cost-of-living crisis had multiple drivers. Voters associate Brexit with trade friction, NHS staffing shortages and higher food prices, though they also cite energy prices and the Ukraine war. Cost of living polling →
What do voters think about a UK-EU closer relationship?
52% support a closer UK-EU relationship within the current framework — without full membership or freedom of movement. This includes a veterinary agreement (61% support), reduced trade barriers, and security cooperation. 54% oppose restoring freedom of movement even as part of closer ties. Labour’s “EU reset” policy aligns with this modal position better than either full rejoining or further distance. UK-EU relations polling →