Brexit vote

[MoonSister75]

As stated in the article that I posted above, the results of this referendum do not mean that the small majority have taken a decision for the UK to leave Europe - it was an advisory referendum. Our MPs representing us, those with skills and experience, will make the most appropriate decision when the time comes to decide. Some who voted Leave may be angry at that, and may be want to get out of Europe now. It seems they were lied to about what this referendum meant, just as they were lied to about the consequences.

My parents are out in Spain at the moment and have said how upsetting and worrying this is for the the expat Community. I think the absolute worse and most horrifying thing over here is a huge increase in racist attacks towards Europeans, people of colour who were born in this country and migrant children in school.

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...ent-act-europe

Our democracy does not allow, much less require, decision-making by referendum. That role belongs to the representatives of the people and not to the people themselves. Democracy has never meant the tyranny of the simple majority, much less the tyranny of the mob (otherwise, we might still have capital punishment). Democracy entails an elected government, subject to certain checks and balances such as the common law and the courts, and an executive ultimately responsible to parliament, whose members are entitled to vote according to conscience and common sense.

By November, there may be other very good reasons for MPs to refuse to leave Europe. Brexit may turn out to be just too difficult. Staying in the EU may be the only way to stop Scotland from splitting, or to rescue the pound. A poll on Sunday tells us that a million leave voters are already regretting their choice: a significant public change of mind would amply justify a parliamentary refusal to Brexit. It may be, in November, that President Donald Trump becomes the leader of the free world – in which case a strong EU would become more necessary than ever. Or it may simply be that a majority of MPs, mindful of their constitutional duty to do what is best for Britain, conscientiously decide that it is best to remain.

There is no point in holding another referendum (as several million online petitioners are urging). Referendums are alien to our traditions, they are inappropriate for complex decision-making, and without careful incorporation in a written constitution, the public expectation aroused by the result can damage our democracy. The only way forward now depends on the courage, intelligence and conscience of your local MP.