55% of Brits now support rejoining the EU

Nearly a decade after the UK voted to leave the European Union, public opinion has continued to shift. According to a fresh YouGov survey conducted on 16-17 April 2026, 55% of Britons support the UK rejoining the EU.

The figure reflects a broader trend of “Bregret”, regret over Brexit, that has solidified since the UK formally departed in January 2020.

When presented with multiple options for the UK’s relationship with the bloc, full rejoining is popular but not the top choice:

• Closer relationship with the EU without rejoining, the Single Market, or the Customs Union: 62% support, 19% oppose (net +43) – the strongest preference overall.
• Rejoining the EU: 55% support, 34% oppose (net +20).
• Maintaining the current relationship (status quo): 33% support, 46% oppose (net -13).
• Further loosening ties with the EU: Just 21% support, 64% oppose (net -43) – the least popular option.

Support for a closer (but not full-membership) relationship is particularly notable among 2016 Leave voters (57%) and those who backed the Conservatives in 2024. Full rejoining, by contrast, draws only 21% support from Leave voters.

Deep divisions

The poll underscores persistent Brexit-era fault lines. Among 2016 Leave voters, only 21% back rejoining the EU outright. A plurality (45%) prefer maintaining the status quo, while 43% want to loosen ties further and 57% favor a closer non-membership relationship.

Among 2016 Remain voters there is a strong majority backing for rejoining.

The latest data comes from YouGov’s occasional tracker on EU options, run at irregular intervals. Support for rejoining has hovered in the low-to-mid 50s in recent soundings, with similar results (around 52-55%) appearing in earlier 2026 polls.

Separate YouGov research has found net opposition to rejoining if it meant losing previous UK opt-outs (such as on the euro or Schengen). In a hypothetical referendum scenario, framing and turnout would likely play major roles, and past polling has sometimes shown higher “Remain” support in a straight re-run question.

The findings arrive as the Labour government under Keir Starmer pursues a “reset” with the EU, seeking deeper cooperation on trade, security, and other areas without pursuing full membership, an approach that polls suggest enjoys broad but not especially intense backing.

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