I only involve the non-voters as an example of how I don't think the result was "clear". If the turnout was 100% it would be 'clearer', but at that % still not 'clear' IMHO. It's also because of the misinformation, from both sides. The people voted from positions of ignorance - on both sides. It's not the way a sophisticated civilisation makes important decisions. And there wasn't another more important than membership of the EU.
Giving rise to the question "What do sardines eat?" You will be dining on zooplankton (animal) apparently, one step up the food chain from plankton (vegetable). Yummy.
I believe 16-18 year olds should not be given the vote because most lack the necessary knowledge or interest. It was the SNP Scottish government that gave this group the right to vote as they felt it would increase the leave vote. The UK government quite rightly did not see the merit it following this idea. The referendum decided the UK should leave the EU, nothing should now prevent this. I can guarantee the UK will not be in the internal market, it may however end up with some access. We will not be subject to the ECJ or unrestricted movement, our leader clearly ruled this out last week.
The government has ruled out a second referendum because parliament commissioned the June 2016 referendum to decide on membership.
Harsh on 16 to 18 year olds when their whole future was at stake. There are 50 shades of leave. Humour me though. (who knows TM could be deposed) What if a Norway style solution were offered?
You forgot to quote the mantra 'The will of the people' this time, you were beginning to sound a bit like Robespierre. They believed that in those days as well but modern democracy believes that government also works to protect the interests of minorities, like the 48% for example, like all the non voters and, most importantly, the 6 million British passport holders living overseas - they are also 'The People'. Yes SH, 6 million. Just over 10% of all Brits live abroad, and it is a fair guess that well over half were disenfranchised. Does their status suddenly become that of illegals without them ever being asked ? This is not the work of a democracy - if a German citizen lives abroad then they hold onto voting rights until death. The referendum asked the simple question 'do you want to leave the EU', nothing else. It did not say anything which ruled out a Norway solution. It did not say 'for evermore'. It did not forbid a second referendum. The character of what came next ie. Nexit was left open (as we now find out without any plan whatsoever).
Everyone's future is at stake, it is preferable that voters are suitably qualified but I know that is a dangerous road to go down. Sorry Leo, I cannot imagine the UK having a deal which allows free movement or remaining control by the ECJ. I would add no deal can possibly be agreed which would prevent the UK doing bi-lateral deals outside of the EU. There are far too many political careers on the line.
The will of the people could be taken to mean anything. Boris assured everyone that the country would be able to stay in the single market and provide huge sums of money for the NHS. How many people believed that to be the case and cast their vote to leave because of it? That was their will. Two of my friends as frequent users of the NHS voted to leave on the basis of what he said. It is their will that we stay in the single market. Maybe you should say that they should have had more sense than to believe him, but if that is the case why should we believe anything he says today? Different people who voted to leave had many different reasons for doing so, therefore there is no overall will of the people.
The time to debate the rules on the referendum was prior to the actual event. I don't suppose you would have mentioned these perceived injustices had the result favoured your views. The remainers in the Tory government decided on the rules, they were obviously over confident about the result they wanted.
Most senior politicians for leave and remain clearly stated a vote to leave meant we would be out of the internal market. Once the UK saves wasting the billions on EU membership funds can be diverted into the NHS. The main reason for voting leave was about uncontrolled immigration. The second reason was sovereignty.
If the result went the other way Farage would have been yapping away 24/7 about it and he'd already be asking for a 2nd referendum on the matter due to 'Project Fear'. The point remains that it was never a one-off referendum, Leave never claimed it would be, and leaving EU gives us no way back whilst enjoying the current privileges we have. You're still to give us one single benefit of leaving. One single benefit...When I wake up on April 1st 2019 what perks will I have?
That's nonsense, May was claiming until recently that we could cherrypick the bits we wanted, and still thinks she stands a chance. Boris (and yourself) said the Germans 'will still want to sell us cars' (god I hate that soundbite), yet now you're saying that the plan all along was to Hard Brexit? Making it up as you go along...Life must be pretty easy as a Brexiter. If all else fails just fall back onto soundbites...
I gave you an example of one who was clear that we could cherry pick. I take it that you regard him as a senior politician? There is no evidence to show why people voted as they did, yet I showed how some felt betrayed by the way that things are moving.
It was a one off referendum just as the original one was on the common market. When we leave the benefit will be that you will no longer need to debate an issue that had been decided.
The devil in me has to throw this into the mix... https://blogs.ancestry.co.uk/cm/we-...d=74115&o_lid=74115&o_sch=External Paid Media ... according to which, in the event of leaving EU, you may all be deported from England for reasons of dubious ethnicity. Except perhaps yorkie who is, apparently, nearly half English....
