Brexit Regret Emerging In Northern Ireland/The North As Some Leave Voters Shift Position

Brexit Regret Emerging In The North As Some Leave Voters Shift Position

A new poll suggests a noticeable shift in opinion among some Brexit supporters in Northern Ireland/The North, with 17% of those who voted to leave the European Union in 2016 now saying they would vote to rejoin.

The findings point to a change within a specific section of the electorate, rather than a full reversal, but still indicate movement in attitudes nearly a decade after the referendum.

In 2016, Northern Ireland/The North voted 55.8% to remain and 44.2% to leave, making it one of the few regions in the UK where a majority backed staying in the EU.

The latest figures suggest that even within the original Leave vote, some positions are softening as the long-term effects of Brexit continue to play out.

While the poll does not suggest a majority shift, it highlights a gradual change that reflects wider trends seen across the UK, where support for closer ties with the EU has grown in recent years.

In Northern Ireland/The North, the impact of Brexit has been more pronounced than in other regions, particularly in relation to trade arrangements, cross-border movement, and governance structures.

Those issues have kept Brexit at the centre of political debate, long after the referendum itself.

The data does not point to an immediate political shift, but it does raise questions about how stable the original Leave vote remains over time.

As the long-term consequences of Brexit continue to develop, attitudes in Northern Ireland/The North appear to be evolving rather than remaining fixed.