Majority of Brexit voters now back free movement for EU market access: Study

LONDON

A majority of Britons who voted to leave the EU now support restoring the free movement of people in exchange for access to the EU's single market, a new study revealed on Thursday.

The latest findings are part of a broader assessment by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) that shows strong public support on both sides of the Channel for closer ties between the UK and the EU.

The ECFR study, based on polling more than 9,000 people across the UK and the EU’s five largest member states—Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland—found a significant shift in public opinion.

It found that 54% of Britons who voted to leave the EU, including 59% in key "red wall" constituencies, now support citizens’ free movement to travel, live, and work across borders if it means regaining access to the single market.

Across all UK voters, 68% supported the proposal, with only 19% opposed.

Support was consistent across all major political parties, except Reform UK, even though among its voters, 44% backed the idea.

This shift, the study suggests, could be attributed to the sharp increase in net migration to the UK since 2016, which has caused many Brexit supporters to reconsider the effectiveness of leaving the EU as a solution to immigration concerns.

The report also found reciprocal enthusiasm within EU member states for stronger ties with the UK.

Public opinion in all surveyed countries favored a reset in relations, in contrast to their governments' more cautious approach.

The ECFR cited major geopolitical developments, such as Russia-Ukraine war and US President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House in January, as key factors prompting a reassessment of EU-UK relations.

It argued that these events have exposed vulnerabilities on both sides, making improved cooperation more urgent.

The study also highlighted widespread UK support—mirroring by EU priorities—for a youth mobility scheme for citizens aged 18 to 30, which could facilitate young people find work and travel opportunities.

While this has been a key EU demand for a revised Brexit deal, incumbent British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has so far rejected the proposal.

The ECFR urged policymakers to act swiftly, concluding: "The EU and the UK are both very vulnerable to prevailing global events, and a reset of relations is the single most effective way to make both sides stronger."