EU Vote

[Robert]

Interesting about this huge petition demanding a re-run. Why wasn't the petition launched before the referendum? After all, its signers knew the terms of the referendum. So why did they not protest before the voting?
Could it be that they smugly assumed they'd win?

Anyway, they've made it clear that if they don't get their own way, they'll scweam and scweam and scweam.

[Robert]

I wouldn't have thought it likely. If it happens it will lead to a general election, since the tory brexiteers will side with the Labour Party and Scots Nats on all future House of Commons votes. There's nothing that concentrates an MP's mind like the possible loss of his job. Brussels would have to give the tory remainers mega bribes to get them to do that.

[Mayerling]

I keep thinking that if Scotland is now requesting a second go at the independence referendum, out of a sense of fairness they should also ask for a special referendum for the northern isles of Scotland to vote if they wish to remain part of Scotland (technically "the kingdom of Scotland and the isles") or return to their previous owner, Denmark.

Jeff

[Geddy2112]

By the way, don't rule out a 2nd vote 100%, while unlikely, it will be debated in Westminster next week.

Well if it's going to be debated by the Politicians next week it will sure to happen as most of them wanted to remain. I think the politicians are so scared they are actually going to have to some proper work for once and look after the interests of the UK and the UK only...

I'm often scared though walking around looking at folk and thinking my God they actually were allowed to vote..

[Elamarna]

Hi All

the scariest thing about all of this, and a response to the "that is democracy line," is the woman interviewed last night on the BBC.
Now while others interviewed gave their reasons for voting leave, this woman said " i don't know why i voted to leave, i just did." if not the exact words very close to.

When massive constitutional issues are decided on in that fashion, it makes it clear why often a a two thirds majority is needed for such changes. why there was not such a requirement here I cannot understand!

For a trades union to go on strike it takes more than 50% and to remove a government in the UK at present needs 2/3 of the house, it seems the government were so arrogant and sure of victory, they did not put this in place.

You could have had a situation where 1 side beat the other by JUST ONE vote, that cannot be right no matter which way you voted.


We will see over the following months the short sightedness or not of this decision.

By the way, don't rule out a 2nd vote 100%, while unlikely, it will be debated in Westminster next week.

steve

[John Wheat]

Quite correct there will be no 2nd vote from Britain, but I took (perhaps mistook?) Robert to mean the rest of Europe should have their chance to vote just like Britain. From what I understand many ordinary European folk don't like what is being imposed on them by the EU elite.

There will, I think, be a 2nd vote for independence in Scotland.

Yes it's looking likely. If Scotland do leave Britain maybe the people of Wales and Northern Ireland will want a vote for independence too. It wouldn't surprise me if other countries in the EU will want a referendum as well.

Cheers John

[Robert]

Hi Graham

As I recall, after the defeat of Napoleon the victorious Powers forced Belgium (which used to be called the Austrian Netherlands) and Holland to fuse together into one state, as an attempted bulwark against any future French expansion. The Belgians and Dutch didn't like it much. As compensation for giving up the Austrian Netherlands, Austria was given Venetia in northern Italy. I don't think the Venetians liked it much either.

[Graham]

As I understand it, the 'Common Market' was devised basically to prevent further war breaking out between continental European nations

Diplomatically put, Graham. I don't think they were too worried about the Belgians attacking the Dutch, or France attacking Luxembourg.

Ah, yes, well - in 1831 The Netherlands made an unsuccessful military invasion of Belgium which seceded from the United Kingdom Of The Netherlands in 1830. Known as the Belgian Revolution. (Your Majesty, the Belgians are revolting, kind of thing....). Britain declined to send in troops (unusually), but the French did and kicked the Dutch out of Belgium. I've got a (very) vague memory of seeing what I think was a memorial to those killed at a battle near Liege.

Graham

[Wickerman]

I voted to remain. However the people have spoken and any talk of a second referendum is bullshit. I expect Britain to leave the EU as soon as possible.

Quite correct there will be no 2nd vote from Britain, but I took (perhaps mistook?) Robert to mean the rest of Europe should have their chance to vote just like Britain. From what I understand many ordinary European folk don't like what is being imposed on them by the EU elite.

There will, I think, be a 2nd vote for independence in Scotland.

[Robert]

As I understand it, the 'Common Market' was devised basically to prevent further war breaking out between continental European nations

Diplomatically put, Graham. I don't think they were too worried about the Belgians attacking the Dutch, or France attacking Luxembourg.

[Graham]

As I understand it, the 'Common Market' was devised basically to prevent further war breaking out between continental European nations, and to make everyone feel as though they were part of a whole the interchange of commerce was developed. If I remember correctly, Britain first applied to join in 1961 when MacMillan was PM, and we didn't get in until de Gaulle was dead and buried. He despised Britain, even though we won his country back for him, and was not prepared to permit us to be part of his club. As I said in an earlier post, I never felt 'European' and I think that probably goes for the greater part of the population of these Isles. But Ted Heath made it is life's ambition to get us in, and in we went. OK, membership of the EU has been swings and roundabouts: good, bad and plain bloody silly sometimes, but I do ask myself what real, lasting benefit we got out of it.

Graham

[Robert]

That's fair enough, John.

[John Wheat]

I voted to remain. However the people have spoken and any talk of a second referendum is bullshit. I expect Britain to leave the EU as soon as possible.

[Robert]

Hi Jon

Yes indeed, they don't like democracy.

I would suggest that the ideal course, to minimise uncertainty, would be to have an EU-wide referendum on the same day, with voters choosing whether they want their countries to stay or leave.

[Wickerman]

Anyway, it's done now. And if anyone should think that the result of the Referendum was nothing to do with uncontrolled EU-policy immigration, let them think again. I'm now wondering which EU country will be the next to have a referendum - I think I might wander down to Coral's later and see what sort of odds I can get!

Graham

I know there are a wide number of issues behind this Brexit vote, but I think, as you suggested above, that the idea of waves of foreigners entering Britain under the EU open-door policy is a major factor.
I grew up in England when Enoch Powell was pushing for restricted immigration, there has always been a ground-swell of opinion along that score in England, now it has surfaced as never before.

None of this may have happened if the World powers had moved against Hasad in the first place.
I see the widespread migration of Syrians because of Hasad's policies as being the spark that led to this Brexit vote, in an indirect fashion of course.

Every country must retain the right to control it's own borders, and no country should be required to adopt laws and policies created in some 'foreign' (EU) board-room.