Poll a decade after Brexit finds majority of Britons view leaving EU as a mistake, with support for a new referendum

A decade after voters approved Brexit, a majority of people in the United Kingdom now say leaving the European Union was a mistake, according to a CBS News report published June 23, 2026. The same report says more Britons would prefer a new referendum rather than leaving the decision as settled.

The CBS News article describes a public mood shift that contrasts with the original referendum outcome, in which supporters of Brexit prevailed. It also highlights that even with a changing majority view, the political class has largely avoided putting the question back on the ballot.

The report frames the issue as less about the referendum mechanics and more about accountability and consent. While many voters appear to want a chance to revisit the decision, lawmakers and party leaders have not shown a parallel shift toward reopening the process, leaving the final result in political limbo rather than in a renewed public vote.

CBS News also notes that reopening Brexit would carry practical and institutional consequences, since it would require Parliament to reconsider how the country handles its relationship with the EU. That includes legislative and administrative steps, as well as navigating competing positions inside and across political parties.

In the United Kingdom’s system, a referendum is not simply called by public demand, it is an instrument that depends on government decisions and parliamentary authorization. The CBS News report underscores the gap between public preference for a second vote and the reported reluctance of politicians to revisit the “wound” created by the original campaign and referendum.

The CBS News report arrives as Brexit continues to shape the UK’s trade, regulatory environment, and everyday rules for residents and businesses. For families, services, and employers, a renewed referendum would not be abstract, it would likely reopen negotiations and legal planning across multiple sectors.

For now, the CBS News account indicates the primary change is in public opinion, not in government action. Whether any new referendum effort emerges would depend on whether political leaders decide that voters’ current stance justifies the cost, disruption, and legislative work involved in a second vote.