Almost two-thirds of British voters across all political parties believe the UK’s 2016 decision to leave the European Union — commonly known as Brexit — has had a negative impact on the country, according to a new poll released today (21 June 2026) by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). The think tank’s survey, conducted between 7 and 14 May among more than 2,000 respondents, found that two-thirds think Brexit has raised the cost of living and harmed the UK economy.
A Decade of Disillusionment
“A decade on, British citizens are realizing that their hopes for a better life outside the EU remain unfulfilled — and that Brexit is undermining the UK’s ability to tackle the issues that matter most to voters,” said Mark Leonard, director of the ECFR.
Fifty-six percent of respondents said leaving the EU worsened the UK’s handling of irregular migration, trade, and bureaucracy. Fifty-seven percent believe Brexit reduced opportunities for young people, and the same proportion — 57% — consider the decision to leave the EU a mistake.
Shifting Public Sentiment
Three-quarters of those surveyed now want closer ties with the EU, the ECFR reported. The poll also revealed a notable shift in foreign policy preferences: Britons favour Europe over the United States as a security partner, with only 18% viewing the US as an ally on security matters.
Controlling immigration was the central theme of the pro-Brexit campaign. Yet the survey shows that 56% of Britons now believe the UK’s post-Brexit approach has failed — and would support reinstating freedom of movement with the EU in exchange for a deeper trade relationship.
The ECFR noted that a separate poll carried out across 15 EU member states found that two-thirds of Europeans hold a favourable view of the UK potentially rejoining the EU in the future.