Survey Shows Gen Z Majority in UK Supports Rejoining EU After Brexit

Recent discussions in British politics have increasingly focused on whether the United Kingdom might reconsider its decision to leave the European Union. This report examines the issue through three perspectives.

It begins by presenting a recent survey published by The Guardian that explores Generation Z's views on Brexit and the future of UK-EU relations. The article then reviews critical reflections from three Guardian columnists who witnessed the referendum and its aftermath over the past decade. Finally, it considers the options available to the next UK government regarding resetting ties with the EU.

Generation Z’s View on Brexit and EU Membership

A new poll conducted by the research center More in Common surveyed 440 young people aged between 18 and 28. The findings indicate that 60% would vote to rejoin the European Union if given the opportunity, while only 9% would support remaining outside the bloc. When focusing on those likely to vote in any future referendum, support for rejoining rises to 81%, with 19% opposed, according to The Guardian.

The survey also shows that half of Generation Z considers Brexit a failure, whereas only 16% view it as a success. Meanwhile, 34% remain undecided. Regarding reasons for Brexit’s perceived failure, 37% believe it could have succeeded if politicians had managed it better, while 29% think the project was doomed from the start. Only 11% regard Brexit as successful so far.

These results emerge amid growing attention to demographic changes in the UK electorate since the pivotal 2016 referendum, which ended with 51.9% voting to leave the EU and 48.1% to remain. The passing of millions of older voters who supported Brexit, coupled with the addition of millions of younger, pro-Europe voters to the electorate, may have effectively eliminated the previous majority for leaving, opening the door to renewed debate about the UK’s relationship with the EU.

The Guardian highlights that 62% of young British people support holding a new referendum on rejoining the EU within the next five years, compared to 11% who oppose it, with 27% undecided.

Reflections from Guardian Columnists on Brexit’s Impact

In an extensive discussion, three prominent Guardian writers—Aditya Chakrabortty, Polly Toynbee, and Simon Jenkins—revisited the 2016 referendum and its aftermath, questioning whether the concerns raised by Brexit opponents have materialized and if the UK is moving closer to Europe again.

Chakrabortty described the referendum period as marked by anger and division, noting a significant gap between marginalized, frustrated regions and political and media elites who spoke in terms of figures and facts. He identified one of the referendum’s most dangerous consequences as the rapid normalization of racist rhetoric following the result announcement. He recounted a friend hearing someone shouting in the street after the vote: “We have our country back, and now I will burn that mosque,” referring to a mosque located at the end of the street.

Toynbee, who spent the referendum day working at a Labour Party call center supporting the Remain campaign, said the calls she heard reflected widespread anger over increased immigration and a desire among many voters to “take back control” from the EU.

In contrast, Jenkins admitted he had been skeptical of the European project from the start but later changed his view after concluding that leaving the EU would be worse. He recalled European academics and journalists in Germany expressing fears that Britain’s exit would leave Europe’s future in the hands of other countries that might disrupt the balance London represented.

All three agreed that the Leave campaign lacked a clear plan for implementing Brexit after the vote. Chakrabortty pointed to figures like former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, politician Michael Gove, and UKIP leader Nigel Farage as pushing for Leave without a practical vision for what would follow. Jenkins noted that divisions were not only about leaving the EU but also about the nature of the new relationship with the continent. Toynbee assigned some responsibility to former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for refusing to back a proposed settlement that might have led to a softer Brexit.

Looking back over the past ten years, Jenkins observed that public debate has become less emotional and more focused on practical matters such as trade, student exchanges, and regulatory constraints. However, Chakrabortty rejected this view, emphasizing that one of Brexit’s most serious effects was the normalization of hardline discourse on immigration and national identity, with ideas once considered extreme now part of mainstream political discussion.

Regarding the future, opinions diverged between gradual renewed cooperation with Europe through sector-specific agreements and ultimately seeking formal re-entry into the EU. Chakrabortty argued that any rapprochement should be based on a clear democratic mandate, while Jenkins called for a public debate grounded in facts and economic data. Toynbee expressed that she now feels the warnings issued by Brexit opponents a decade ago were justified, considering Brexit not only an economic mistake but also a political and emotional one. She concluded that the UK has finally begun reassessing the experience and exploring new forms of its relationship with Europe.

Political Implications Following Starmer’s Resignation

The Brexit debate has evolved into an urgent political issue confronting the new British leadership, especially after the resignation of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. According to The Times, resetting relations with the EU will be among the first priorities for Andy Burnham, the leading candidate for prime minister and mayor of Greater Manchester.

The newspaper notes Burnham will need to clarify his stance on negotiations with Brussels, particularly concerning the youth mobility agreement between the UK and the EU. Although he is expected to approach the matter cautiously and initially uphold the red lines set by his predecessor Starmer, any European demands for concessions could soon present him with a difficult political challenge. This comes at a time when calls within the UK, especially among young people, are intensifying to reconsider the country’s relationship with Europe after a decade since Brexit.