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A recent YouGov poll has shed light on public opinion regarding the UK potentially rejoining the European Union, revealing a complex picture of conditional support both in the UK and across the continent.

The poll, conducted in six Western European nations, found that a clear majority of people in the EU's four largest member states—Germany, Spain, France, and Italy—would welcome the UK back into the bloc. Support for a UK return was as follows:

Germany at 63%

Spain at 60%

France at 53%

Italy at 51%.

However, this support is not without conditions. When asked if the UK should be allowed to rejoin while keeping its previous opt-outs, such as remaining outside the euro and the Schengen passport-free zone, the numbers shifted dramatically. In the four largest EU countries, barely one-fifth of respondents (ranging from 19% in Italy and France to 22% in Germany) felt the UK should be allowed to return on those terms. A majority, between 58% and 62%, believe that the UK must participate in all of the EU's main policy areas.

The survey also highlighted a similar divide within the UK. While 54% of Britons now support rejoining the EU, this support is also conditional. The number drops to just 36% if rejoining means giving up the UK's previous opt-outs. This reveals a "public opinion impasse" where both sides want rejoining on their own terms, which are currently incompatible.

The results indicate a growing sentiment in favour of closer ties, but the details of what that would look like remain a significant hurdle. The poll also found that while a majority of Britons now see Brexit as a failure, there is still a divide on whether rejoining is the right priority for the government at this time.