Opinion in hindsight
On the question: ‘Brexit vote – right or wrong?’ public opinion has more than reversed compared to the 2016 referendum result.
66% currently think the Brexit vote was wrong and 34% think it right (YouGov 23 February 2026 – see Figure 17.3). On a comparable basis, the referendum result was 48% to 52% (with don’t knows removed).
At 23 February 2026, the margin of wrong over right was 32% (compared to 4% in the opposite direction at the referendum).
These 372 polls repeat the same question consistently from 1 August 2016, so indicate the trend well.
Figure 17.3: In hindsight, do you think Britain was right or wrong to vote to leave the EU?
Source: NatCen Social Research
Similarly, a January 2025 poll by Ipsos found 54% thought that Brexit was the wrong decisions and 32% right, with 14% don’t knows.
Younger voters were more likely to think the decision wrong (56% of 18-34s and 58% of 35-54s) than older voters (49% of 55-75s).
Although 18% of Leave voters have changed their minds, most Leave voters (69%) still believe it was the right decision, as do most Conservative voters in GE2024 (61%) and Reform UK voters (67%). However, 67% of Labour voters think it was the wrong decision.
Figure 17.4: Views on whether Brexit was the right or wrong decision
