Exclusive polling by the thinktank More in Common reveals that 60% of Britons aged 18 to 28 would vote to rejoin the European Union if given the opportunity, with only 9% opting to stay out. Among those likely to vote in a hypothetical second referendum, support for rejoining surges to 81%.
The survey of 440 young people across Britain shows that 50% of Gen Z consider Brexit a failure, while just 16% view it as a success. Luke Tryl, executive director of More in Common, noted that for many young Britons, the 2016 referendum was a formative political event, but they are now hesitant about a return to divisive debates that could distract from issues like the cost of living and climate change.
Hostility to Brexit is strongest among those aged 18 to 21, 53% of whom deem it a failure, compared to 48% among those aged 25 to 28. While 37% believe Brexit could have worked but was mishandled by politicians, 29% think it was never going to work. Only 11% say it has worked well so far.
The findings come amid demographic shifts that have eroded the pro-Brexit majority. Analysts estimate that roughly 15% of original Leave voters have died since 2016, while about 6 million young people have become eligible to vote. The poll also found that 62% of under-29s support a referendum on rejoining within five years, with only 11% opposed.
