Key facts
- 60% of Britons aged 18-28 would vote to rejoin the EU.
- 81% of likely Gen Z voters support rejoining the EU.
- 50% of Gen Z Britons view Brexit as a failure.
- 62% of young Britons believe a referendum on rejoining the EU should be held within five years.
- The UK will rejoin the EU's Erasmus+ program in 2027.
New polling reveals a significant shift in sentiment among young Britons regarding the UK's departure from the European Union. According to a study by the thinktank More in Common, 60% of individuals aged 18 to 28 would vote to rejoin the EU if given the opportunity. This demographic, largely excluded from the 2016 EU referendum due to their age, expresses deep dissatisfaction with the outcomes of Brexit. When focusing solely on those likely to vote in a hypothetical second referendum, the support for rejoining the bloc surges to 81%, with only 19% favoring remaining outside the EU. The survey of 440 young people across Britain indicates that 50% categorize Brexit as a failure, while just 16% view it as a success, and 34% remain undecided. Luke Tryl, executive director of More in Common, noted that for many in Gen Z, the Brexit referendum was a formative political event they experienced without the ability to vote. While young Britons largely support rejoining in principle, focus group discussions suggest a hesitancy towards revisiting the prolonged Brexit debates of the past, which they fear could distract from pressing issues like the cost of living, housing, jobs, and climate change. Hostility towards Brexit is most pronounced among the youngest adults (18-21), with 53% deeming it a failure. This sentiment slightly softens among older Gen Zers (25-28), but remains predominant. The UK is also taking concrete steps towards the EU, including rejoining the Erasmus+ student exchange program in 2027 and allowing British scientists back into the EU's Copernicus Earth observation program and to apply for Horizon Europe grants. However, the political landscape presents a paradox, with Nigel Farage’s Reform Party leading in polls, and most of its voters wanting to maintain distance from the EU. The departure of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer adds further uncertainty to the UK's future relationship with the bloc.