Polling Shows Majority of 2016 Referendum Voters Prefer to Stay Outside EU

Polling conducted by Opinium for The Observer between May 2025 and June 2026 showed consistent majorities among 2016 referendum voters favoring continued separation from the EU. A separate Ipsos survey in May found 52 percent of respondents wanted the government to retain full control over immigration regardless of effects on EU relations.

Thirty-eight percent said they would accept closer ties even if that reduced border authority.

Data released by Britain Unbound showed 59 percent of voters opposed surrendering powers to rejoin the EU. Among 2016 Leave voters, 85 percent said replacing the pound with the euro would be a decisive factor against rejoining. YouGov polling in May indicated 22 percent of Leave voters would reject rejoining outright if it required adopting the euro, while another 55 percent said they would be far less likely to support it.

Forty-three percent of Remain voters also said losing sterling would reduce their support for rejoining.

The polling was first published by Britain Unbound after remaining unpublished for more than twelve months. The surveys tracked opinion in July, September, November, and December 2025, then again in April, May, and June 2026. Nearly 70 percent of respondents said the government should set employment law, establish a public energy provider, and control entry of foreign nationals without EU involvement.

Support was highest for retaining national authority over VAT rates and rail nationalization.