Keir Starmer is trying to repair relations with the European Union but Brexit remains a thorny issue in the UK - and we want to know your views on whether to rejoin the EU or not
13:56, 02 Jan 2026Updated 10:33, 06 Jan 2026
This year marks 10 years since voters across the country voted in the EU referendum in 2016.
After a divisive campaign, the UK voted to leave the European Union by 52% to 48%. Since then, Brexit has played a major role in political life. It triggered the resignation of Tory PM David Cameron and shaped the tenures of Theresa May and Boris Johnson, who both battled to get a deal to leave the EU through Parliament.
Now, Keir Starmer is trying to repair relations with EU. In a foreign policy speech at the end of last year, the Prime Minister was clear that Britain must make its relationship with the EU work for British people, saying that while Brexit was a “fair, democratic expression”, the way it was sold and delivered was “simply wrong”.
“The Brexit vote was a fair, democratic expression, and I will always respect that,” he said. “But how it was sold and delivered was simply wrong. Wild promises were made to the British people and not fulfilled. We are still dealing with the consequences today.”
Last month, in a sign of closer relations with the bloc, the Government announced the UK will rejoin the Erasmus+ programme. It will mean British students will be able to study abroad at universities in Europe for the first time since Brexit. More than 100,000 people in the UK could benefit from the scheme in 2027 alone, the first year the scheme will be up and running.
But Brexit is a thorny issue which continues to divide the country today. The Liberal Democrats want even closer ties with the bloc and are calling for a customs union to be negotiated with the EU. Wes Streeting broke ranks before Christmas to show support for a new customs union, while TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said closer links to Brussels were critical as Donald Trump proves an untrustworthy partner.
On the other side, any attempt at closer relations leads to criticism of a "betrayal" of Brexit. Nigel Farage - a key architect of the Brexit vote - has called for a renegotiation of the Brexit deal to strip EU citizens from claiming benefits in the UK. Critics warn the move could risk a trade war.
An exclusive poll for The Mirror last night revealed a majority of people would want to see the UK rejoin the EU if another Brexit referendum was held. Nearly six in 10 (58%) people who would vote in a second Brexit referendum would vote to rejoin the EU.
Support was highest among 18 to 24-year-olds, where more than eight in 10 (86%) backed returning to the bloc. Older groups were more likely to support staying out of the EU, by 51% to 49% among 55 to 64-year-olds, and 58% to 42% among over 65s. It comes amid growing calls for closer ties with Europe from Labour.
Brexit continues to be a difficult issue in the Westminster world - but what do you think about the idea of rejoining? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.