A clear majority of the British public would now vote to reverse Brexit and take the UK back into the European Union, according to an exclusive new poll. The survey, conducted as the nation approaches the tenth anniversary of the historic 2016 referendum, reveals a significant shift in sentiment, with nearly six in ten voters ready to rejoin the bloc.
Stark Generational and Political Divides on EU Membership
The Deltapoll survey for The Mirror, which interviewed 1,997 British adults between 16th and 18th December 2025, found that 58% of those who would cast a ballot in a new referendum would support rejoining the EU. The desire to return is most pronounced among the young, with a staggering 86% of 18 to 24-year-olds backing the move.
In contrast, older voters remain more sceptical. Those aged 55 to 64 would favour staying out by 51% to 49%, while the over-65s would choose to remain outside the EU by a margin of 58% to 42%. The poll also exposes deep political trenches: while 71% of Labour supporters and 78% of Lib Dem voters want to rejoin, 66% of Conservatives and 82% of Reform party voters back the current status quo of being outside the union.
Nationwide Support with Regional Variations
Every region of the UK now shows a preference for returning to the European Union, though the strength of feeling varies considerably. Support is strongest in Scotland, where 73% would vote to rejoin, followed by London and Wales, both at 65%.
The Midlands and the North of England show the lowest levels of support, but even there, a majority still favours rejoining, at 53% and 54% respectively. This geographical pattern underscores the enduring but shifting political landscape a decade after the original vote.
Political Reality Clashes with Public Sentiment
The public's apparent appetite for a return stands in tension with the current political stance of the government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has sought to repair relations with Brussels and struck a new trade deal last year, has explicitly ruled out rejoining the EU, the single market, or the customs union.
Speaking to the BBC, Starmer stated his government's position was to seek a closer relationship without reversing Brexit. However, there are signs of internal pressure for deeper alignment. Health Secretary Wes Streeting publicly supported exploring a new customs union with the EU before Christmas, breaking ranks with the government's official 'red lines'.
Meanwhile, voices from civil society are making the case for stronger European links. TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak has argued that closer ties are essential given the unreliability of other allies like Donald Trump. Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of the campaign group Best for Britain, said the poll reflected a public view that "Brexit has been a failure" and that geopolitical instability makes EU membership more appealing.
As the tenth anniversary of the Brexit vote arrives in 2026, this poll suggests the national conversation about Britain's relationship with Europe is far from over, with a public increasingly looking longingly back at the club it left.
