26 July 2018

COVI: What do millennials want from Brexit?

The report reviews nine major studies looking at the perspectives of young people in relation to the EU and the Brexit process, compares these to the Chequers Plan recently outlined by the UK government, and examines the implications for the ongoing negotiations on the UK's relationship with the EU.

There are a number of clear and consistent messages that come across from the studies we examined and other direct insights from our engagement with younger people.

1. Young people are well-informed and want to play their part. Young people have a strong understanding of the complexities Brexit and its potential implications, and want their perspectives to be reflected in the Brexit negotiations.

2. The importance of a strong economy for jobs and living circumstances. Across the research young people and young adults identified concerns relating to needs that interface with a strong economy; young people felt that decent jobs and affordable housing were important priorities for Brexit Britain.

3. A strong commitment to an internationalist outlook. The majority of young people are positive about the effects of globalisation on their own lives and support collaboration with other countries, even if this means a ‘trade off’ with national sovereignty.

4. Freedom to travel, work and study abroad. Young people are concerned at losing freedom of movement rights and opportunities and want Brexit negotiations to preserve EU membership benefits, including the ability to work and study abroad, and the Erasmus exchange programme.

5. Immigration produces mixed opinion, but is a lower concern overall than for older age groups. Young people are less concerned about immigration than the UK population as a whole.

Full report

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