By Lucas Shiller

Engagement Editor at Opinary

With the UK’s debate over rejoining the EU in the headlines again, it’s worth asking what readers themselves make of the idea. The Times, Financial Times, Yahoo News UK and the iPaper have all put the question to their audiences over the past four years. Together those answers run to hundreds of thousands of votes, and they tell a more nuanced story than you often hear.

Brexit’s Unpopular Legacy

On the popularity of Brexit itself there is very little argument. Every publisher’s audience lands in the same place, no matter who asked or when: it was viewed as a disaster. 

But Rejoining isn’t a Foregone Conclusion

Agreeing there’s a problem isn’t the same as knowing the solution. When asked whether the UK should rejoin the bloc immediately, the consensus comes apart and the publishers’ audiences diverge.

The Incremental Approach

Readers do, however, agree on pretty much everything short of membership. Almost any step towards Europe polled better than rejoining the bloc tout court, and on the topic of defence and security the audience approached unanimity.

Swipe through the poll gallery to see which topics users agreed on most.

Vantage Point Matters

Geography shapes this debate as much as anything else, and the breakdown of the Times’ audience by region is a revealing reminder that there is no single British view about rejoining the EU. On whether Brexit worked, readers have made up their minds. On what to do next, the jury’s still out.

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