A new Ipsos poll shows 56% of Britons would vote to apply to rejoin the European Union if a referendum were held, while just three in ten would vote to stay out. The findings come as Prime Minister Andy Burnham prepares for the EU-UK summit in Brussels on November 20, where he will push for a closer relationship with member states.
Support for rejoining has risen by four points since May, while opposition has fallen by three points. Mr Burnham, 56, has said he wants the UK to rejoin the EU within his lifetime.
Support strongest among Labour voters and under-35s
There is overwhelming support for rejoining among people who voted for Labour at the last election, at 77%, and among under-35s, at 73%. However, 47% of those aged 55 and over would vote to stay out, with just 39% wanting to re-enter.
Among Reform UK voters, 76% would back staying outside the EU, while 54% of those who supported the Conservatives want to remain outside the bloc.
Likely voters show stronger backing
When Ipsos looked at how "likely voters" would cast their ballots in a referendum, support was even stronger: 63% would back rejoining and 34% would oppose it. Nearly half of respondents (49%) would support a referendum before the next election, but Mr Burnham has ruled out reversing Brexit in this parliament.
There was less support for rejoining without a referendum if Labour simply made a manifesto commitment to go back in and then won the election. Thirty-nine percent supported joining this way, with 35% opposed.
Mixed views on economic and security impact
A majority thought being back in the EU would be better for Britain's economy in the longer term, at 54%, with just 23% thinking it would make the situation worse. More than half (53%) thought membership would strengthen Britain's national security, while only 17% thought it would weaken it.
However, just 37% thought it would strengthen Britain's ability to control immigration and asylum, with 31% thinking being back in the EU would make it worse. Only one in four people thought rejoining would increase Britain's ability to make decisions in its own best interests, while 39% thought it would weaken that ability.
Ipsos director comments on the findings
Keiran Pedley, director of politics at Ipsos in the UK, said: "These numbers are encouraging for those who support the UK joining the European Union with a clear majority saying they are in favour and just three in ten explicitly opposed. A majority of the public also think joining would have a positive impact on Britain's economy in the long term and national security too. Yet in other areas the public are less sure, which suggests there are still arguments which could be contested in any future campaign. Britons are less convinced joining will positively impact their own standard of living and the issue of immigration remains an important one. More generally, the public are more likely to think joining will have a negative, rather than positive, impact on Britain's ability to make decisions in its best interests; a sentiment any future campaign in favour of joining would have to contend with."
