A majority of Britons would vote for the United Kingdom to apply to join the European Union if a referendum were held, according to new Ipsos polling. The survey finds 56% would vote to apply to join, while 30% would vote to stay out, with the remainder undecided, unwilling to vote or preferring not to say. Support for joining has risen four points since May, while opposition has fallen three points over the same period.

The pattern is sharper among likely voters in a future referendum, where 63% back joining and 34% oppose it. Support reaches 73% among people aged under 35 and 77% among people who voted Labour at the last general election. Among older voters the balance reverses: 47% of those aged 55 and over would vote to stay out, against 39% for joining. Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,109 British adults aged 18 and over online between 15 and 22 October 2026.

What it means for the November summit

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is due to meet EU officials at a UK-EU summit in Brussels on 20 November, where the future shape of the relationship is expected to feature prominently. Burnham has said he would like to see the UK rejoin the EU within his lifetime, but has ruled out rejoining in this Parliament and has said he will not move ahead of the public. The poll therefore bears on a longer-term debate rather than an immediate change of policy.

On the referendum question itself, 49% support a referendum before the next general election and 28% oppose one, while 51% support one after the election. Ipsos cautions that all polls carry a range of possible errors, and that on the historical record there is a nine-in-ten chance the true value lies within four points of the estimate.