Key facts
- 70% of UK voters want closer ties with the European Union.
- 31% want a closer relationship without complying with EU rules.
- 39% want much closer cooperation, even if it means following some EU rules again.
- 51% of Reform UK voters want a closer relationship with the EU.
- Green Party voters were most keen on closer EU ties, with 64% supporting it even if it meant applying more EU rules.
Seven out of ten voters in the United Kingdom want the government to build a closer relationship with the European Union, according to a new POLITICO Poll conducted by Public First. The poll indicates significant support for overhauling the current Brexit settlement, with even a majority of voters supporting Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage's Reform UK party (51%) believing the existing arrangement with Brussels is too distant.
The findings emerge at a critical time for the governing Labour Party, as Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces pressure from within his party to reverse Brexit and potentially rejoin the EU. The poll revealed that 31% of respondents desire a "closer" relationship with the EU without necessarily complying with its rulebook, while 39% advocate for "much closer" cooperation, even if it requires the UK to follow some EU regulations again.
Supporters of left-leaning parties were more inclined towards closer EU ties than those on the right, with Green Party voters showing the strongest support. Older voters, however, were less enthusiastic about deepening the relationship. The poll surveyed 2,028 UK adults online between September 13-15, 2026.