New Brexit Poll Finds Economy and Immigration Worsening in Britain

(UNITED KINGDOM) — Yonder Data Solutions released a major new poll on January 6, 2026, showing British voters now see Brexit as having made the economy and immigration worse and leaving the country with less control than before leaving the European Union.

The survey, conducted by Yonder Data Solutions on behalf of FGS Global, described a “sea change” in public opinion about the promises made during the 2016 referendum campaign.

Key poll findings (United Kingdom)

• 72% of British voters said the UK now has less control over its affairs than before Brexit.
• Only 15% said the slogan “take back control” has been realised.
• 66% said Brexit has hurt the economy, compared with 22% who saw a positive impact.
• 66% said Brexit has not given the UK greater power over its borders.
• 50% would support rejoining the EU, while 38% were opposed.
• Only 14% of Britons said the nation’s “best years are ahead” — the lowest optimism reading among surveyed major nations.

“The poll presented a picture of widespread disillusionment, measured across national control, economic outcomes, and immigration.”

Poll methodology and scope

The results came from a study of 20,000 participants across 27 leading democracies, placing British attitudes in a wider international comparison that also measured confidence in national trajectories. The poll was released on January 6, 2026.

Public sentiment on control, immigration and economy

Public scepticism about the central Brexit pledges was prominent:

• The 72% who said the UK has less control over its affairs sat alongside the 66% who said Brexit has not delivered greater power over borders.
• Just 15% believe the pledge to “take back control” has been realised, highlighting a gap between the referendum promise and current public assessment.
• On economic impact, the 66% negative judgment versus 22% positive shows strong public perception that Brexit has harmed the economy — a view shaped by cost-of-living pressures and broader economic anxieties.
• The 50% support for rejoining the EU underscores how much opinion has shifted since 2016.

Generational differences and democracy

The poll identified a generational divide on democracy and political direction:

• Gen Z voters in the UK are losing faith in democracy, and young Britons were found to be twice as likely as baby boomers to favour authoritarian leadership as a solution to national stagnation.

International and European context

• Across Europe, 59% of European voters viewed the UK’s exit as a mistake, suggesting Brexit’s adverse effects are influencing political calculations beyond the UK.
• The poll’s release coincided with international policy moves and messaging about immigration, particularly in the United States, where border control and vetting remained central themes in early 2026.

Related policy developments (UK & US)

• In the UK, following the “Restoring Control” white paper, the Home Office confirmed that, starting January 8, 2026, new applicants for Skilled Worker and Graduate visas must meet a higher B2 English language standard, increased from B1.

• The Home Office rules are set out through the government’s published immigration rules framework, including the Immigration Rules statement of changes.

• In the United States, early 2026 saw communications and policy actions reflecting a focus on border control:

• On January 1, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security shared an image titled “America After 100 Million Deportations,” stating: “The peace of a nation no longer besieged by the third world.” The communication was described as an official social media post.
• USCIS implemented inflationary fee adjustments for Fiscal Year 2026. “Beginning in FY 2026. the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will adjust some of these fees for inflation. The new inflationary-adjusted fees are effective on Jan. 1, 2026,” the agency said in an update posted on November 20, 2025, on USCIS’s fee adjustments page.
• On November 27, 2025, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow issued guidance on vetting aliens from 19 high-risk countries: “My primary responsibility is to ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible. Effective immediately, I am issuing new policy guidance that authorizes USCIS officers to consider country-specific factors as significant negative factors when reviewing immigration requests,” Edlow said in an alert published on USCIS’s additional national security measures page.

Summary table — UK poll snapshot

Political implications

Taken together, the findings present a picture of widespread disillusionment in the UK — across national control, economic outcomes, and immigration — nearly a decade after the 2016 referendum. The poll’s scale and international comparison also highlight how perceptions of Brexit are resonating across Europe and shaping broader political debates.

For policymakers, the UK-specific readings arrive while the government is tightening immigration rules in at least one concrete area (raising English language requirements for certain visa applicants as of January 8, 2026), and while global discourse on border control remains prominent.