Brexit: Over half of UK voters support rejoining the EU, study finds
New research has found that more than half of Britons support fully rejoining the EU; because enthusiasm for full membership is more popular with voters than joining the single market.
A new survey from Best for Britain has found that there is little interest in a “half-way” approach to the EU, such as a customs union or entry into the single market.
According to a poll by YouGov, 61 percent of the public support the government’s current approach to “reset” relations with the EU in order to establish closer ties.
But beyond that, 53 percent of the public say they are in favor of Britain becoming a member of the EU again, while only 32 percent are against it.
In comparison, 49 percent support the customs union and 46 percent support the single market.
Naomi Smith, chief executive of the pro-EU campaign group Best for Britain, said it was “clear to see there is little appetite for halfway houses for a customs union or access to the single market”.
He said: “All these options are accompanied by lengthy negotiations, but this is the only membership that provides both an economic boon and a political safety net to fend off concerns about sovereignty that are quickly exploited by pseudo-patriots on the right.”
Tom Brufatto, lead author of the report and chief policy officer at Best for Britain, said the findings showed it was “essential” for the government to reconsider its approach to Europe.
He said: “Looking beyond current EU negotiations, pushing for UK membership is the most sustainable policy option available, which will not only deliver the most growth but also mobilize support from progressives across the UK.”
Support for rejoining the EU is also highest among supporters of the Labor Party (83 percent), Liberal Democrat (84 percent) and Green Party (82 percent).
Support is lower among right-wing voters; 39 per cent of Conservative supporters and 18 per cent of Reform UK backed the policy position.
Former Labor leader and European Commission vice-president Neil Kinnock said it was “now clearer than ever” that the UK needs to strengthen its relationship with the EU while Donald Trump has been “playing war games all our lives”.
He said: “With an unstable US President who has been playing war games all our lives and initiating conflicts that have driven up inflation around the world, it is now clearer than ever that our ‘special relationship’ must be with our neighbors on our continent, where the UK can have the power to share decisions and exert appropriate influence.”
When the Prime Minister took office he pledged to reset Britain’s relationship with Brussels and promised to restore ties with the EU damaged by the previous Conservative government.
Last week Sir Keir Starmer warned that the need to reverse parts of Brexit was evidenced by the crisis caused by Donald Trump’s war on Iran.
He underlined that the economic crisis caused by the war led to the UK’s economic reconnection to the EU.
“We cannot go back to the status quo, the status quo, where working people are clearly failing, seeing living standards stagnate and public services reduced. So this time Britain’s response must and will be different to reflect the changing world we live in. That starts with our economic security,” he told Parliament.
“This means a closer economic relationship with our European allies, because Brexit has caused deep damage to the economy and the opportunities we have to strengthen our security and reduce the cost of living.”
