Ten years after Brexit vote, London march calls for UK's return to EU as poll shows British regret and European support

March in central London

Thousands gathered near Temple tube station on 20 June, according to Le Temps, with organisers reporting around 1,500 participants. Police put the figure in the hundreds. The National Return March wound through to Parliament Square under a sea of EU flags, blue-and-yellow costumes and signs reading "We want our star back", "European Citizen" and "Re:Union". A woman in a blue wedding dress held a placard asking "Ten years of pain, where are the gains?", posing as the EU's bride.

The whole Brexit campaign was based on immigration, and it has been shown to be a total absurdity.

Organiser Clare Hall said the last decade had proven Brexit was a wrong decision, and that life had become harder as everything grew more expensive. She added that young people would "pay the consequences of Brexit".

Poll shows British regret and EU backing

An ECFR survey conducted between 7 and 14 May 2026 across 15 European countries found that 66% of respondents consider UK membership was a good idea to some degree. Support for the UK rejoining ranged from lows of 56% in Bulgaria and 59% in France and Italy, to highs of 75% in the Netherlands and Denmark. Even far-right voters favoured closer relations: 71% of Poland's Confederation supporters, 58% of Germany's AfD backers and 58% of Rassemblement National voters in France endorsed the idea.

Among UK respondents, 75% said they wanted their country back in the EU. Brexit was seen as having a negative impact on the cost of living (66%), the economy (65%), opportunities for young people (57%), illegal immigration (56%) and trade (56%). Notably, 58% of Leave voters said Brexit had worsened illegal immigration.

Leaders react

French president Emmanuel Macron said the door was "always open", while Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez declared Spain would "without doubt" support British membership.

The door is always open.

UK prime minister Keir Starmer has spoken of a new momentum in relations with the EU without opening the door to rejoining, though other Labour figures, such as former health minister Wes Streeting, have discussed the topic.

A decade since the vote

Britain left the EU in January 2020 following a referendum on 23 June 2016, when 51.89% voted to leave. The march on Saturday took place three days before the tenth anniversary of that ballot. Former Labour leader Lord Kinnock, who joined the protest, called Brexit "a total, unprecedented and continuing disaster".

A total, unprecedented and continuing disaster.