A new poll commissioned by Best for Britain by YouGov of almost 5,000 people found that when it comes to negotiations with the EU, Brits expect trade to be the government’s top priority relative to all other options, including improving defence and security cooperation and tackling illegal immigration across the English Channel.
The poll found that a majority (62%) understand that the Government is seeking a closer relationship with the EU but that more think they aren’t going far enough (35%) compared to those who think their current approach is correct (15%).
Among Labour’s winning coalition of voters at the last election, a clear majority believe the Government is not going far enough (54%).
People were asked to indicate their highest and lowest three priorities for the UK-EU Summit in May 2025, from a list of 10 options. Trade between the UK and EU is the public’s top priority for the Summit, ahead of ‘illegal migration across the English Channel’, which comes second, and ‘improving the UK’s and EU’s defence and security’ in third place. ‘The UK economy’ came fourth, ahead of ‘people’s ability to travel between the UK and EU, in fifth place’.
When asked what they want the government to prioritise outside the context of May’s summit with EU leaders, the top four concerns among respondents relate to the cost of living. Of the 19 options provided in this question, trade with the EU came sixth, above, the quality of public services, availability of jobs in the UK and even protecting the UK’s ability to make its own laws.
The same question found that the public cares little for Starmer’s efforts to strike a deal with Donald Trump. Keeping the door open to a trade deal with the USA was second to last in this list of public priorities with protecting food standards, tackling climate change, and 15 other options ranking higher.
The economy and trade
With the cost of living dominating public concerns, the poll also found that a majority of respondents (53%) say a closer relationship with the EU will drive economic growth.
Of Labour's 2024 coalition of voters, those who previously voted Conservative and even those now leaning towards either Reform UK or Conservative agree that a closer relations with Europe would have a positive impact on trade.
The ability to work and travel between the UK and EU
Six in ten said a closer relationship with the EU will make it easier to work and travel between the UK and EU.
Even among people who said they would consider voting for Reform UK at the next election, around half (48%) said closer EU ties would make travel for Brits easier across Europe. This compares to one in ten (11%) potential Reform voters who said it would have a negative impact on either.
Labour voters are also very clear that they believe a closer relationship with the EU would have a positive impact on the ability of people to work and travel between the UK and EU and, again, even amongst those who voted Labour in 2024 but who are now leaning towards switching to Reform UK and the Conservatives.
Defence and security
A majority of people (56%) say Britain's defence and security would be positively impacted by a closer relationship with our nearest neighbours, the EU, compared with just 9% who say it would have a negative impact. This opinion extends to Labour's 2024 voter coalition and even those who supported Labour in 2024 but who are now thinking about voting Reform UK next time agree by 58% compared with 13% who say it would have a negative impact.
The data
Poll commissioned by Best for Britain. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 4,703 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 31st March - 2nd April 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
A Max-Diff analysis (as used in the chart titled "Which of the following do you think are the MOST and LEAST important things that the UK Government should focus on improving?") is a more suitable method of polling when there are numerous options available. It calculates respondents' priorities by asking people to choose their top three or four preferred options as well as their bottom three or four least preferred options and using this data to offer a more representative result.