A generation of young Britons who were legally locked out of the 2016 EU referendum due to their age now firmly believe that Brexit has failed, with a significant majority demanding a fresh ballot to rejoin the European Union.
According to exclusive new data tracking 18- to 28-year-olds (Generation Z), conducted by the political think-tank More in Common, young adults are exhibiting a deep, systemic dissatisfaction with the United Kingdom’s current trajectory outside the European fold.
The study reveals a landslide shift in generational sentiment: 60% of this cohort would vote to rejoin the bloc if given the opportunity today, compared to a mere 9% who would vote to remain outside. When filtering the results to focus strictly on those highly likely to cast a ballot in a hypothetical second referendum, the margin becomes a complete blowout—with the pro-EU camp capturing a staggering 81% of the prospective vote.
The Political ‘Coming of Age’ Failed Experiment
For millions of Gen Z citizens, the bitter political gridlock of the mid-to-late 2010s served as their foundational introduction to domestic politics.
““For many Gen Z Britons, the Brexit referendum was formative to their political ‘coming of age,’”” explained Luke Tryl, Executive Director of More in Common. ““In focus groups, many say Brexit was the first political event they were vividly aware of—too young to vote, but with distinct memories of that campaign and the years of debate that followed.””
A decade after the historic vote, the study breaks down exactly how this core demographic categorizes the constitutional split:
- A Failed Project: 50% explicitly label Brexit a total failure.
- Unresolved or Indifferent: 34% remain completely undecided or neutral.
- A Success Story: Only 16% view the project as a victory for British independence.
Gen Z Perception of Brexit's Execution:
[37%] Believe Brexit could have worked, but was "ruined by politicians."
[29%] Argue the project was inherently flawed and "never going to work" from the start.
[11%] Maintain that Brexit has functioned well up to this point.
Demanding a New Vote Within Five Years
The hostility toward the UK’s exit from the EU is most concentrated among the absolute youngest adults. Among 18- to 21-year-olds—who were small children aged six to nine during the original 2016 vote—53% declare Brexit an unmitigated failure, compared to just 12% who see it as a success.
As a result, 62% of young Britons (three in five) state there must be a legally binding referendum to rejoin the EU within the next five years. In stark contrast, only 11% of under-29s actively oppose holding another public vote, while 27% remain unsure.
The Hidden Catch: Fatigue Over Endless Debates
While the data highlights a theoretical landslide for the pro-EU movement, qualitative focus group discussions reveal an underlying hesitation among Gen Z voters.
Many young adults express serious anxiety regarding a potential return to the tribalistic, polarizing Brexit arguments that dominated their childhoods. There is a palpable fear that reopening the European question could stall the government and distract from the immediate, existential crises that Generation Z cares most about: the skyrocketing cost of living, severe housing shortages, real-wage stagnation, and modern job security.
Nevertheless, as natural population turnover continuously shifts the UK’s electoral register, analysts argue that the historical pro-Brexit majority has effectively evaporated, leaving behind a highly mobilized, anti-Brexit demographic shift.
