It is with our tongue firmly in our cheek that we bring you this shock news. A new poll has found that 66% of 18-24 year-olds would like Brexit to be stopped. Yep, according to a survey conducted by BMG for the website Left Foot Forward, want the government to abandon their course for a European Union exit.
Interestingly, 45% of the young people who responded to the survey also said that they believe Brexit can be stopped. When you compare that with all age groups, it’s a higher percentage as only 37% of the entire electorate think it would be possible to put the brakes on Brexit.
It’s no statistical secret that, broadly speaking, young people are less likely to be Eurosceptic and pro-Brexit than their elders. However, this poll suggests that even at this stage in the proceedings the views on the young haven’t changed.
Who can blame them. The chaos, confusion and, frankly, very boring talk of trade deals, divorce settlements and immigration agreements that has ensued since last summer’s vote is enough to convince anyone that we’d be better off without Brexit.
Since the electorate marginally voted to leave the European Union we’ve seen our politics more often at its worst than at its best. There has been arguing, posturing, sniping and shaky policy offered up in various see through attempts to win voters over. All of this has been intended to mask the obvious: we’re a long way from reaching anything like a concrete agreement with the EU and, sadly, that means that important issues that education, social mobility and housing are being offered lip service as opposed to forensic policy overhauls.
Earlier this year, analysis from the London School of Economics(LSE) conducted for the All Parlimentary Group on a Better Brexit for Young People reported similar findings. They spoke to more than 3,200 young people and adults and found that young people held ‘deep concern’ about the ‘negative impact’ of Brexit.
Previous research from the LSEhas suggested that turnout among young people at the referendum in June 2016 was around 64 per cent in the 18-24 group – much higher than anticipated. Their polling also suggested that 70 per cent of this demographic voted to Remain in the referendum.
For younger generations, at the start of their adult lives and working lives, Brexit is an added uncertainity in an already seemingly unstable climate. From rising tuition fees to a private rental sector where the financial goalposts are liable to move at any time, the potential loss of opportunity that Brexit presents is far from appealing.
The research also foundthat young people do not feel the government is doing enough Young British people feel the Government is not doing enough in its Brexit negotiations to ensure equality, social justice and shared economic prosperity both in the UK and in Britain’s relationships abroad.
The idea that Brexit could be stopped is, however, wishful thinking. It will definitely happen, now all we can do is wait and see how it happens.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.