More than half of voters in Northern Ireland believe the UK should rejoin the European Union, a Queen’s University Belfast public opinion poll indicates.
Northern Ireland Polling Shows Majority Backs EU Return
Survey results published by Ireland Live News show that 52% of respondents agree the UK should rejoin the EU and assume the same obligations as other member states. Just 38% opposed the idea. The research, conducted by LucidTalk between October 23 and 26, surveyed a weighted sample of 1,050 respondents from across the region.
Support for rejoining the bloc divides sharply along political lines. Among voters, backing reaches 88% for the SDLP, 86% for Sinn Féin, and 83% for the Alliance Party. Conversely, 92% of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) voters oppose rejoining, followed by 84% of Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) supporters and 63% of Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) voters.
Windsor Framework Support Declines Amid Post-Brexit Friction
Support for the Windsor Framework continues to drop across Northern Ireland. Only 45% of poll respondents now regard the post-Brexit trading arrangement as “on balance a good thing for Northern Ireland,” marking the lowest level recorded since June 2021, Ireland Live News reported. Just 44% view it as an appropriate means of managing Brexit effects, down from 60% in February 2024.
Almost two-thirds of those surveyed—63%—feel Brexit has caused more disruption than they anticipated back in 2016. Meanwhile, 77% believe the UK needs “serious dialogue” regarding its long-term relationship with the EU. However, 69% of respondents stated they lack sufficient information to participate in an informed public debate on the matter.
“Voters in Northern Ireland generally welcome the prospect of the UK having a closer relationship with the EU,” said Professor David Phinnemore, who led the research alongside Professor Katy Hayward as part of the university’s 16th Testing The Temperature series.
“It is striking how few, 16%, believe that politicians will be able to debate options in an informed manner,” Phinnemore said. “Most respondents do not regard Brexit as having been good for the UK.”
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“Our findings suggest that opposition to the Windsor Framework is driven less by resistance to practical cooperation with the EU than by concerns about Northern Ireland’s place in the UK,” Hayward said.
Common Questions on Northern Ireland Brexit Poll
What was the sample size for the LucidTalk survey?
The poll used a weighted sample of 1,050 respondents from across Northern Ireland.
When was the latest Queen’s University Belfast survey conducted?
The fieldwork took place between October 23 and 26.
Which political parties showed the highest opposition to the UK rejoining the EU?
TUV voters registered the highest opposition at 92%, followed by DUP supporters at 84% and UUP voters at 63%.
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