Key Takeaways
- A recent poll suggests that British voters believe Brexit has made things worse in the UK, from the economy to immigration, and left the nation with even less control over its own destiny.
- European voters would welcome the UK back with open arms if it applied to rejoin the European Union.
- The poll found that 72% of British voters said the UK now has less control over its affairs than before Brexit, and 66% said it has hurt the economy.
- The survey also found that 55% of voters believe the warnings about the consequences of Brexit were true, and 23% said they have not turned out to be true.
- The poll suggests that the British public is conflicted about whether to take the dramatic step of rejoining the EU, with 50% saying the UK should rejoin and 38% saying it should not.
Introduction to the Poll
The Independent is committed to providing quality journalism that is available to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. A recent poll conducted by Yonder Data Solutions on behalf of FGS Global has found that British voters are deeply dissatisfied with the way Brexit has worked out. The survey involved 20,000 people over 27 leading democracies, including the US and Europe, and suggests that Britons are the most pessimistic about their nation’s future.
Brexit and its Consequences
The poll found that 72% of British voters said the UK now has less control over its affairs than before Brexit, and 66% said it has hurt the economy. Additionally, 55% of voters believe the warnings about the consequences of Brexit were true, and 23% said they have not turned out to be true. The survey also found that only 22% of Britons said Brexit has given the UK greater power over its borders, while 66% said it has not achieved this. These findings suggest that the British public is losing faith in the idea that Brexit has brought the country more control and prosperity.
European Voters’ Views on Brexit
The poll also found that European voters think Britain’s departure has made things worse for them too. Fewer than one in five (19%) of European voters said the EU is better off without the UK, while one in two (50%) said it is not better off. A clear majority of Europeans (66%) would like Britain to rejoin the EU fold, while only 16% do not want the UK back in. These findings suggest that the EU is not benefiting from the UK’s departure and would welcome the UK back with open arms if it applied to rejoin.
The British Public’s Views on Rejoining the EU
The poll suggests that the British public is conflicted about whether to take the dramatic step of rejoining the EU. When asked if Britain should rejoin, one in two (50%) said it should do, while 38% said it should not. However, when asked separately if the UK should not rejoin, a different picture emerges: 49% said they agree with this view, while 36% disagree. These findings suggest that the British public is not yet convinced that rejoining the EU is the right course of action.
Broader Hopes and Fears for the Coming Year
The survey also paints a stark picture of Britons’ broader hopes and fears for the coming year – and their worries about the country’s future. Only 14% think Britain’s ‘best years are ahead of us’ – lower than voters in any other major nation that took part in the poll – while 67% said the UK’s ‘best years are behind us.’ Similarly, 73% of people in Britain said the country is ‘going in the wrong direction.’ These findings suggest that the British public is losing faith in the country’s ability to make progress and improve the lives of its citizens.
Losing Faith in Democracy
The poll provides further evidence of the trend favouring so-called ‘strong man leaders’ instead of conventional democratically elected ones. A total of 12% of Britons said they favour ‘authoritarian leaders who do not bother with elections’; 79% said they back democratically elected leaders. And the trend shows a marked divide between young and old. Among the UK’s ‘Gen Z,’ a total of 18% favour authoritarian leaders; 72% prefer democracy. By contrast, only 7% of British ‘Baby Boomers’ support authoritarian leaders; an overwhelming 87% side with democracy. These findings suggest that the British public is losing faith in the democratic system and is increasingly open to alternative forms of governance.
Conclusion
The poll suggests that the British public is deeply dissatisfied with the way Brexit has worked out and is losing faith in the country’s ability to make progress and improve the lives of its citizens. The survey also found that European voters think Britain’s departure has made things worse for them too and would welcome the UK back with open arms if it applied to rejoin. The British public is conflicted about whether to take the dramatic step of rejoining the EU, and the poll provides further evidence of the trend favouring so-called ‘strong man leaders’ instead of conventional democratically elected ones. Overall, the survey paints a stark picture of the challenges facing the UK and the EU in the aftermath of Brexit.