We all know Brexit’s to blame for the crisis facing UK steel – it’s time for politicians to be honest and reverse it | Simon Jenkins
www.theguardian.com
With British industry faltering, the excuse that the public wants this is risible. Parliament must force Starmer to act, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

Is this guy right? Should Brexit be reversed?

The article links to some interesting YouGov statistics about current British opinion on Brexit. For example, a majority of Brits support rejoining the EU:

A chart showing some statistics regarding British opinion towards the EU. For example, 36% of Brits apparently "strongly support" rejoining the EU, 20% somewhat support rejoining the EU, 10% don't know if they support rejoining the EU, 10% somewhat oppose rejoining the EU, and 24% strongly oppose rejoining the EU. The rest of the stats in this image can be seen on YouGov's website, in an article posted on June 19th, 2025.

  • RobotToaster@mander.xyz
    1·
    3 days ago

    Even if we take this poll at face value[0], and assume 56% want to rejoin the EU, would the EU want us to rejoin?

    Opinions could easily swing 7% the other way after we did, especially if we didn’t get the same conditions as before. Then before you know it someone holds a referendum on leaving and we’re leaving again, it would be a complete mess.

    If we should learn anything from the Brexit referendum, it’s that we shouldn’t be making long term decisions based on slim majorities.

    [0] The fact that some of the respondents apparently supported rejoining the EU but not the customs union raises questions IMO, since you can’t join the EU without joining the CU as far as I know.

    • LuckingFurker (Any/All)@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      2·
      3 days ago

      Broadly I think the EU would happily take us back for one simple reason - it would do further damage to any other Leave movements. Not only did we make an utter fuck-up of leaving in the first place, and not only is it turning out to not have been a good idea, but if we came back and said “please let us in again” whatever minimal energy is left in any other Leave campaign would be killed completely

    • tetris11@feddit.ukEnglish
      2·
      3 days ago

      would the EU want us to rejoin?

      We have money, yes they would want us back. Just probably not on the same high footing we once had. Thanks, Cameron.

    • moderatecentrist@feddit.ukOPEnglish
      1·
      3 days ago

      Yes that’s a fair point about trying to rejoin with a slim majority in favour. The majority could flip after some time, potentially.

      Realistically I don’t think the UK is going to rejoin the EU for the next few years, but I think it could well become a more popular political idea over time, as the effects of Brexit become more apparent. People might start to feel it in their pockets more. So maybe the UK will end up rejoining in the next 20, 30, 40 years. Who knows though.