Poll: 48% Support Rejoining EU as Debate Intensifies

Polling Shows Rejoin Lead as Andy Burnham Restarts Debate on European Union Relationship

By a margin of two to one, British voters now say they would vote to rejoin the European Union in a new referendum, according to polling data published by The Independent. The shift follows an intervention by Andy Burnham, who placed a closer relationship with the EU at the center of his platform and left open the possibility of campaigning to reverse the 2016 vote entirely.

Polling conducted by BMG for The i Paper shows that public support for returning to the EU reached 48 percent, giving rejoin supporters a 13-point lead over the 35 percent of respondents who favor staying out. An additional 17 percent of surveyed adults answered that they did not know.

Separate polling figures from Ipsos reported by The Independent indicate even wider margins when excluding undecided voters. In that survey, 63 percent of respondents backed joining the EU, while 34 percent said they would stay out, and 3 percent remained unsure.

Economic Growth Comparisons Fuel Post-Brexit Arguments

The debate over the economic legacy of leaving the single market has intensified alongside the shifting poll numbers. Politics.co.uk reported that the UK economy grew by 12.2 percent between 2016 and 2025, keeping pace with France at 11.8 percent and outpacing Germany at 6.2 percent. Since the UK formally left the single market in 2021, the economy has expanded by 7.9 percent, compared to 6.8 percent in France and 1.1 percent in Germany.

Wolfgang Münchau, an economic commentator who advocated for the Remain campaign during the 2016 referendum, concluded that Brexit operated largely as a macroeconomic non-event, according to politics.co.uk. Proponents of Britain’s current trading position point to growth in the tech sector, which ranks as the third most valuable globally behind the United States and China, and employment figures in the City of London, which rose from approximately 500,000 workers before the COVID-19 pandemic to over 680,000 employees.

Conversely, economic forecasters maintain that leaving the bloc carries long-term costs. The Office for Budget Responsibility maintains that the UK’s trading relationship reduces long-run productivity by 4 percent relative to remaining in the EU, though critics note that projection was initially calculated in March 2020 before the final terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement were established.

Cabinet Divisions and Political Reactions to Future Options

Senior government figures remain divided on how to approach future relations with European partners. The Independent reported that Chancellor John Healey expressed opposition to rejoining the EU within his lifetime, while Cabinet ministers such as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood retain reservations regarding freedom of movement and its impact on net migration numbers. Supporters of closer alignment argue that ministers should examine options for the next parliamentary term. The Independent noted that Burnham’s willingness to question long-term arrangements has liberated colleagues to discuss potential frameworks for trade, artificial intelligence regulation, and defense policy.

Frequently Asked Questions About the UK Post-Brexit Debate

* What do the latest polls reveal about public opinion on EU membership?
Polling by BMG for The i Paper shows that 48 percent of Britons back returning to the EU, compared to 35 percent who think the UK should stay out. Ipsos polling reported by The Independent puts support at 63 percent among decided voters in a hypothetical referendum.
* How has the UK economy performed relative to major European neighbors since 2021?
According to data cited by politics.co.uk, the UK economy has grown by 7.9 percent since leaving the single market in 2021. Over the same period, France grew by 6.8 percent and Germany grew by 1.1 percent.
* What is the government’s official stance on rejoining EU structures?
Cabinet ministers have expressed caution about altering current arrangements, with Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds highlighting the success of independent trade deals and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood raising concerns about migration and freedom of movement.