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Today marks ten years since the British public voted to leave the European Union. A recent YouGov study found that 57% now think the UK was wrong to vote to leave the EU, compared to 30% who still think it was right to do so.
Now we used our new YouGov AI Interviewer tool to ask respondents why they take their particular view on the outcome of the Brexit referendum.
The AI agent then conducted interviews with each respondent, following up on their responses, in order to provide ‘the why’ behind what Britons think. Our qualitative analysis of attitudes, including quotes, can be found below, along with examples of respondent interviews in their entirety.
Why do Britons think it was right to vote to leave the EU?
Sovereignty
By far the most common reason given is to do with sovereignty, with many of those who say the UK was right to vote for Brexit giving reasons to do with the UK having control over its own laws and affairs.
- It was the right decision as the EU majority and elected decided how we run the country. However, the way the brexit was done was disgraceful. I wanted a clean break, no bullshit and paying them billions and billions of pounds and we still can't get away from some of their bloody bureaucracy – Male, 55+, did not vote
- I voted to leave the EU as I thought we would have more sovereignty over our borders & Laws but sadly this has not happened I feel had we come out fully our country would be in a better place than at present. – Female, 55+, Leave voter
- We recovered sovereignty. The economy has not prospered as it should, but this has been due to covid and the war in Ukraine. Other European economies are faring worse than ours, especially Germany and Italy, but France is living way beyond its means. Politicians have failed to make the best of the freedom Brexit gave us – Male, 55+, Remain voter
- It gave us sovereignty to make out own laws and control our borders it's just a shame the governments decided to ignore the power they were given and punish the public – Male, 35-44, Leave voter
- We were loosing our identity, too much control from EU, loss of sovereignty, unelected bureaucracy we played by the EUs rules but other members didn’t. – Female, 55+, Leave voter
- I wanted to leave the EU because it was and is a corrupt and anti-democratic institution. I want to return sovereignty over politics and policy to the British people and their parliamentary representatives. The economic impact of this is less important to me than being free of the smothering grasp of Brussels. I absolutely do not want to go back in. – Male, 55+, Leave voter
- My main concern about remaining was losing our sovereignty. We were having to toe the line on every European law but from what I saw, having lived in Spain, we were probably the only country doing so. Also how can Brussels, which is so far away and so different, decide what is best for a small island nation? The ability to be able to travel relatively freely was about the only upside, that I could see. – Female, 55+, Leave voter
- Because we would eventually have lost our control over our own affairs – Male, 55+, Leave voter
- Before Brexit,a lot of rules came from the EU and you couldn't really vote out the people in Brussels who made them. After Brexit,it's all back in Westminster. So if the government messes up trade checks, immigration rules or farming policy,you could actually hold them to it at the next election. We saw that play out, the Tories got hammered in 2024 after years of voters being fed up with how things were handled post Brexit . – Male, 25-34, Remain voter
Immigration and border control
Another common theme for why people think it was right to vote to leave the EU is greater control over immigration specifically.
- I think leaving the eu has its good and bad points. Obviously the bad points are free trade with eu countries and travel has become more difficult. But I don’t want our country to go down the same path as the eu with immigration etc. I know we still are but I would like to get further away from this and scrap following the echr – Male, 18-24, did not vote
- When you have a huge block of widely desperate countries (economically, size, population, infrastructure, culture, education, healthcare, resources etc etc), but allow free movement, populations are inevitably likely to tend to gravitate to those that are more prosperous (real or perceived). This causes huge problems for countries people more to, and problems for the countries that people leave behind. – Female, 45-54, Leave voter
- Because the amount of foreign European healthcare workers flooding over seriously damaged pay and prospects for U.K. citizens resulting in years of stagnation and undercutting in pay. As soon as brexit occurred and it sent a signal that we were not as welcoming as before many went back to their own countries. This was the first time since 2002 that I had a meaningful pay rise – Male, 45-54, Leave voter
- Redefining what it means to be certain nationals. Silly things like we have in England now about British values are tolerance. When it was just nonsense they had to make up when they opened the floodgates to immigration in 1997. The central EU wants to flood nation states with random people from incomparable countries to weaken national identity so eventually some pen pusher can say “we’re basically all the same anyway, why even have nations” – Male, 45-54, Leave voter
- I voted remain, but as I observe recent decline in EU economic performance, problems from mass immigration and inceasing bureaucracy and WEF influence I am now glad we left. – Male, 55+, Remain voter
- I feel we now have independent trad, fishing and more control over immigration. – Female, 55+, vote not recorded
Regulations and bureaucracy
Others brought up the nature of EU rules and bureaucracy specifically when detailing why they think it was right for the UK to have voted in favour of Brexit.
- people forget the costs in membership, the stupid rules we had to follow, the corruption, budget never agreed/signed off, spending on sleaze and quango's, ECHR stupid decisions, unfettered immigration, fishing abuses by France and Spain that were adverse to our fishermen... – Male, 55+, Leave voter
- For some of the reasons about managing our own regulations and economy, but not about stopping freedom of movement – Male, 55+, Leave voter
- many things could have changed or we are now able to change, but they have basically cut and pasted EU laws/rules into our laws/rules so nothing has changed – Male, 55+, Leave voter
- There are rules about everything. We had a system where if something was not banned, you could do it. The EU has the continental system where, if it is not legislated for, you can't do it. Our ancient freedoms were curtailed. – Female, 55+, Leave voter
Trade and economic independence
Some also raise the ability for the UK to make our own trade deals with other nations as a reason that Brexit was the right choice.
- We are now free to make our own trade agreements with non EU countries and our trade within the EU has increased since leaving – Female, 55+, Leave voter
- We have been able to negotiate trade deals around the world and we have the fastest growing economy in the g7 – Male, 45-54, did not vote
- Despite the lies, we have exported more to EU than before. We are able to have trade deals with other countries and are not ruled by an unelected leader. Being out of the EU has protected us against the US taxes – Male, 55+, Leave voter
- Because there is plenty of potential for more trade deals, to form defence alliances with other countries (AUKUS for example), keeping our own currency has been a benefit, and the EU is not thriving anyway. – Female, 55+, Leave voter
Other reasons
Other reasons some respondents give for why Brexit was the right decision include the cost of being a member of the EU, and preserving British traditions and culture.
- We had to pay too much to the EU, which did not leave enough for domestic investment. – Male, 55+, Leave voter
- I also am a fan of true diversity, I like visiting different countries and experiencing different cultures. I do not want national identities diluting in the name of a EU federalist superstate. – Male, 55+, Leave voter
- We want to remain independent and not just become Europeans. We have traditions and British charms such as cream teas, monarchy, seaside humour – Female, 45-54, Leave voter
Why do Britons think it was wrong to vote to leave the EU?
Economy and the cost of living
The impact on the economy and the cost of living is a core reason given by many of those who say it was wrong for the UK to vote to leave the EU.
- Being part of the EU made us stronger. It was better for trade, and free movement within Europe. The bat crap crazy lies about us saving money was rubbish. The Boris bus saying the money would go into the NHS was ptopogander. There was never any benefit leaving. Costs of everything have risen to frightening levels. Being an island makes us even more at risk because we have to import so much. Europe hate us now. We are the laughing stock of Europe, and it really sucks!!! – Female, 35-44, vote not recorded
- Leaving the Eu has been a disaster. There was never any planning to leave as no one knows what leave should be as everyone involved knew that leaving the will would cause economic damage. The country was lied to by leave politicians for their own personal gain. – Male, 45-54, Remain voter
- We live in a post covid world where economies everywhere were affected. The British economy was already in decline due to Brexit and reduction in investment when Covid put a nail in the coffin. Would we be in a better position economically and financially if Brexit hadn’t happened? Would we have been in a better position to deal with the consequences of Covid? I think the answer is yes we would. Instead, we were dealing with the Brexit fallout already when Covid hit. – Female, 45-54, Remain voter
- Travel is harder, country removed from some programs, economy has gone backwards, illegal immigration still an issue, red tape even worse. – Male, 45-54, Leave voter
- Because it's messed up the country, all prices have increased significantly. Cost of living crisis, airports are a nightmare as we aren't in the EU anymore. We still have immigration happening but now illegally – Female, 18-24, did not vote
- Because I feel like that's when prices of everything started to go up, everything got worse. Nigel farage and Boris Johnson spouted lies about immigration and the NHS and certain people believed them. – Female, 25-34, vote not recorded
- Because the country has suffered economically by leaving the EU. From a personal point of view, I have lost the freedom to travel, live or work in the EU and I now face added travel restrictions that limit my choice of destinations. – Male, 55+, Remain voter
- Because it has made trade more difficult, cost the economy a lot, made travel more difficult, eroded human rights commitments, and made everyday British people's lives worse – Female, 18-24, did not vote
- The economy is the biggest factor, but also things like it seems harder for us to travel around Europe for leisure or work, yet we seem to have the same obligations around immigration, e.g. for the Ukrainian people, not that I disagree with that entirely, it just seemed to only be us that got the bad end of the stick – Female, 25-34, did not vote
- i think it has caused huge economic problems, made the cost of living extremely expensive and fueled division and racism – Female, 35-44, Leave voter
Freedom of Movement and travel
Many also brought up the loss of easy travel to and within Europe – for themselves or the younger generation.
- Primarily i do not like the loss of the freedom of movement. It is very inconvenient for myself and my family as half are European and I have not been able to get my second passport yet. Additionally, it has harmed business and trade and caused instability in the UK. – Male, 18-24, did not vote
- I voted to remain. It has made visas and passports issues for travelling British. It was done out of racist reasons and not thinking of the bigger picture like economy and trade – Female, 35-44, Remain voter
- Close friends have been unable to continue employment in Europe that they were previously doing. British people are no longer able to easily work/travel in the we – Female, 25-34, Remain voter
- I visit France a lot and my family own property there my parents used to live there it's a beautiful country and we used to live in Cyprus . Free movement within the eu and sharing all we have makes it a better place . I have to get my dog a passport each time we go . Before I could get him an eu passport that lasted 5 years . I think Europe should be one country with Britain . Pool all our resources together . Together working as one is always better than fractious and divided . – Female, 35-44, Remain voter
- EU countries are not as accessible to young people to do exchanges or even work while travelling for more than 90 days. School students used to be able to access language camps which are no longer available to UK students – Female, 45-54, Remain voter
- It has stopped young people working abroad and people staying in holiday homes abroad for longer than a few months – Female, 55+, Leave voter
The UK’s global standing and influence
Some mentioned the impact that Brexit has had as a player on the world stage, and the damage caused to relations with our European neighbours.
- I said this because I feel like leaving the EU has made everything from traveling to trading much more of a headache and we really experiencing the consequences now with the way prices are now going higher and opportunities have reduced drastically for our young people. It feels like we have cut ourselves from our community, our neighbors and have also lost a lot of influence and stability – Female, 35-44, did not vote
- Because it stripped opportunity for young people to study and work abroad, it made us weak on the world stage, and there was false propaganda about immingration and the champions of it are self serving . I believe it's made us all poorer – Female, 45-54, Remain voter
- Because we walked away from the biggest free trade market in the world. For security we need to be closer allies with Europe. We lost freedom of movement and the opportunity for young people to study abroad – Female, 55+, Remain voter
- The US is in severe decline as a world power and lashing out as a rogue state. It is unrealistic to stake our diplomatic future on remaining allies to the US because it has become a liability. This leaves us extremely vulnerable in a period of growing foreign (Chinese, Russia) influence/aggression. It is important we align closely with European states out of our own self-interest – Male, 18-24, did not vote
- It has left us more vulnerable in a volatile global environment. The decision was wrong to leave and has left us significantly worse off financially – Male, 35-44, Remain voter
- We are less secure geo politically, our economy has tanked and there are increasing levels of toxic division. It's a disaster. – Female, 45-54, Remain voter
- We should work closer with internationally especially with EU countries to work on goals such as security, climate change and trade. Brexit was sold on fake numbers and nationalism – Male, 18-24, did not vote
- Because being in the EU was a massive benefit for us. I work in a hospital, all the EU nurses left. It's more difficult to travel abroad now. It makes us look foolish and I think we are all poorer – Male, 35-44, Remain voter
Other reasons
Other reasons some respondents give for why Brexit was the wrong decision include the impact on social cohesion in the UK, the weakening of European unity in the face of hostile countries, and labour shortages, among others.
- it's against everything I believe in. We need to have the support and co-operation of our close neighbours both for political security as well as seamless trade. – Female, 55+, Remain voter
- Because we no longer have the benefit of being part of a larger trading block it is harder for us to forge new trade deals with countries, especially since we are in competition with the EU now rather than working with it. – Female, 18-24, did not vote
- I voted to leave at the time because I was concerned about the influence of Germany and I lived through the war. I now feel that Europe needs to be united in the face of Trump's policies – Female, 55+, Leave voter
- Because it has caused so much unnecessary difficulties for the country. It has also worsened a culture of racism. It has limited students' abilities to do exchange programs and makes travel to European countries look more difficult. In my mind, the EU is positive with many structures and rules I respect – Female, 18-24, did not vote
- I think it has harmed the UK economically and increased division in society – Female, 45-54, Remain voter
- We were part of the EU researcj funding body. The oment we left the EU that stopped, to the serious detriment of British science. We lost thousands of students who now had to pay international fees. These have had a massive impact on universities and on our standing in the international scientific community. – Male, 55+, Remain voter
- I think leaving the EU has left us completely isolated in terms of defence. I think it's harder for people to travel to and live in Europe. I think we are missing out on delicious food and wine at affordable prices and our young people are missing out on living and learning abroad. We also have the terrible passport and security issues at airports and sea ports. – Female, 55+, Remain voter
- We need people to come to the UK to work the jobs our people seem unwilling to do. While we were a member of the EU we had those people coming from countries close by, who had similar beliefs and cultures to our own. There were differences, but generally we were the same. Now we have more people coming from places where women's and gay rights are not as good. This means in increasing amount of crime related to those incompatible views – Male, 35-44, Remain voter
- Saying with hindsight it was the wrong decision was based on looking back at how Cameron renaged on his stated commitment to stay on to lead the country watever the referendum result and knowing how May et al failed over the secession details and negotiations…Knowing that we would still have a stable leadership was a key part of my deliberations at the time. I would not have voted leave had I thought that it would result in a change of PM via a closed Conservative leadership process – Male, 55+, Leave voter