49 Percent of UK Voters Support Rejoining the European Union
An opinion poll published on October 3 shows that 49 percent of British voters support rejoining the European Union, while 28.5 percent oppose it, chosun.com reported. The survey of 5,627 British adults, conducted last month by the political consultancy Messina Group, also reveals that 52.4 percent of respondents now view Brexit as a mistake.
Public Opinion Shifts Toward Closer European Ties
Alongside support for outright EU membership, 48.2 percent of respondents back revising bilateral agreements with Brussels, and 47.1 percent support joining the customs union. Only 27.9 percent believe the United Kingdom should distance itself further from the bloc. This figure aligns closely with the 29.7 percent of respondents who maintain that Brexit was the correct decision.
The survey further indicates that more than two-thirds of participants consider trade with the EU to be more important than commerce with either the United States or China.
Andy Burnham Signals Possible Return to EU
Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently signaled the possibility of a return to the EU. Ahead of a scheduled summit with European counterparts next month, Burnham stated on September 29 that he would present multiple options to secure the long-term relationship between the United Kingdom and its European partners. He followed those remarks by telling the BBC that he could push the strategy “all the way.”
Ben Judah, a researcher at the think tank Chatham House, told the Guardian that the polling results validate Burnham’s approach. Judah noted that a near-national consensus has emerged around the view that Brexit has not succeeded. Statistical modeling of the survey data suggests that pursuing closer ties with Brussels could increase Labour Party vote shares by 4.3 to 7.4 percentage points.
Reform UK Warns Second Referendum Would Divide Country
Lawmakers representing constituencies that voted in favor of leaving the EU in 2016 express concern that reopening the debate will benefit the right-wing Reform UK party.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, criticized the prime minister’s posture on October 1. Farage claimed that a second referendum would divide the country on an unprecedented scale, remarking that Burnham might be handing his political life its greatest momentum.