The proportion of Brits who say Brexit was a mistake has hit a record high, a survey from pollsters YouGov shows.
With few economic benefits to show for the June 2016 vote to leave the European Union, 57 per cent of Brits said the decision to leave the European Union in 2016 was the wrong one, compared with 32 per cent who thought it was correct.
Released on Tuesday, the survey found more than half – 55 per cent – said they would vote to remain in the EU, against 31 per cent who said they would stay out if the referendum was held again.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in May Brexit was delivering benefits, citing his flagship policy of free ports and VAT cuts he said would make beer and sanitary products cheaper.
Economists say free ports – special zones containing tax and customs reliefs and simplified trade regulations – are unlikely to boost Britain’s economy but might have limited value as a regional development tool.
British business investment has barely grown since mid-2016, in contrast with other advanced economies.
While Brexit-supporting economists point to the fact capital grew strongly in the years leading up to 2016 and was bound to slow, business surveys point to Brexit as one cause of the stagnation.
The YouGov survey of more than 2000 British people showed 63 per cent now regard Brexit as more of a failure than a success, compared with 12 per cent who considered it as more of a success.
A further 18 per cent said it was neither.