A new YouGov poll has found that just 8% of Britons believe Brexit has positively impacted their lives, with many Leave voters expressing dissatisfaction, particularly regarding
immigration levels.
Public perception of Brexit's impact
Five years after the UK officially left the European Union on January 31, 2020, following years of political debate after the 2016 referendum, the latest survey highlights widespread disappointment with Brexit’s outcomes.
According to the poll, 31% of respondents believe Brexit has strengthened the UK’s control over its own laws. However, 21% argue that leaving the EU has negatively impacted British sovereignty.
The survey also reveals that 67% of the public think Brexit has worsened the cost of living. Additionally, 65% believe it has harmed the economy, while 64% think it has negatively affected British businesses.
Leave voters express disappointment
Strikingly, fewer than half of those who voted to leave the EU in 2016 can identify any positive outcomes. Only 23% of Leave voters feel Brexit has improved UK international trade—a key promise made during the referendum campaign.
Dissatisfaction is most evident in immigration policy, with 50% of Leave voters stating that Brexit has had a negative effect on immigration levels. Moreover, 57% say they have not personally felt any impact from Brexit, while 17% report a positive effect and 19% a negative one.
Concerns over Brexit’s effect on key sectors
The NHS is another area where Brexit’s impact is perceived negatively. More than half (52%) of respondents believe Brexit has been detrimental to the healthcare system.
When asked about personal experiences, only 8% of Britons feel Brexit has positively affected them, whereas 45% say it has had a negative impact. Meanwhile, 38% report no significant change in their lives.
Political reactions to the Brexit anniversary
The five-year anniversary of Brexit has been marked by mixed reactions across the political spectrum. Conservatives and Reform UK have celebrated the occasion, with Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel emphasizing that it represents the fulfillment of the British people’s democratic will.
Nigel Farage, a leading advocate of Brexit, stated on GB News that he remains “100% convinced” leaving the EU was the right decision, though he admitted being “disappointed in the way it’s been delivered.”
Opposition leaders, however, continue to criticize Brexit’s consequences. Labour has focused on resetting relations with the EU while ruling out rejoining the customs union or single market. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey described the Conservative Brexit deal as “an utter disaster” that has left farmers, fishers, and small businesses entangled in red tape.
As the UK moves forward, public opinion on Brexit remains largely critical, with many still waiting for the promised benefits to materialize. Photo by ChiralJon, Wikimedia commons.