Support for the United Kingdom rejoining the European Union has reached its highest level since the 2016 Brexit referendum, according to prominent polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice. In a recent interview, Sir John highlighted a notable shift in public opinion, with 61 percent of Britons now expressing support for re-entry, while 39 percent prefer to remain outside the bloc.

Sir John attributed this change in part to demographic developments, including a new generation of voters who were too young to participate in the original referendum and who predominantly favor EU membership. Additionally, some older voters who supported leaving have passed away, while others who abstained from voting in 2016 now lean toward rejoining. Despite the overall trend, he noted that most individuals who voted Leave have not reversed their position, with only about 18 percent of former Leave voters now inclined to support rejoining. Conversely, approximately 11 percent of those who previously voted Remain have shifted toward maintaining the UK's current status.

He emphasized that the increased support has emerged despite limited advocacy from political leaders until recently. Prior to 2024, calls for rejoining were largely confined to smaller parties such as the Greens and nationalist groups, while mainstream parties, including the Liberal Democrats, were hesitant to champion the cause. Sir John suggested that this relative political silence means there is potential for opinions to shift further if more persuasive arguments in favor of re-entry are presented.

Looking ahead, Sir John cautioned that any future referendum remains uncertain and could hinge on how the case for rejoining is communicated to the public. He pointed to the need for political figures to effectively make their case, noting that individuals like Andy Burnham face the challenge of convincing voters of the benefits of closer ties with Europe in the post-Brexit environment.

While the trend suggests growing openness to EU membership, the outcome of any referendum would still depend significantly on the framing of the debate and the ability of advocates to engage and persuade a broadly divided electorate.