ComRes interviewed 1,000 UK adults by telephone between the 14th and 17th July 2016 for BBC Radio 5 Live to ask them how they felt about Brexit a month after the referendum. Amongst other findings, 61% of those asked did not think referendums should be used to make major decisions about Britain’s future.
68% of Remain voters, however, in another poll, wanted a new referendum on whatever exit deal the Government negotiates with the EU, and felt that Britain should not leave the Union if the public votes “No”.
I’m not sure where the idea of rule by referendum arose. I was under the delusion that the British political system was a parliamentary one, that is, voters vote for a Member of Parliament, who is thereby deputed to vote in parliamentary session in the national interest. Since there is no written constitution, holding a referendum cannot be called unconstitutional, since the constitution “evolves”. But this “evolution” displaces parliamentary government. Voting by referendum requires voters to have a level of knowledge and sophistication that collectively doesn’t exist. “Education by highly biased media” is actually what happens. Since the Brexit people refused to listen to the warnings of experts in the first EU referendum, but voted-by-feeling, what makes anyone think that they would vote rationally a second time?
I think a second referendum is a bad idea. Much as I am cynical about politics, these politicians are professionals, paid to weigh the (very complicated) facts. Let Parliament debate the EU negotiations and vote on them. Then, if the MPs get it wrong, vote them out of office. That way there is a higher likelihood of at least getting it all partially right.
The justification for raising this point on a blog devoted to interpreting Epicureanism for modern audiences? Simply a matter of peace of mind amid the turmoil, by which I mean nobody has a lot of it and they want it back.
Turns out that theturnout among young people in the referendum was far higher than previous estimates. According to a new survey, 64% of 18 to 24-year-olds who were registered to vote turned out to vote. Previous analysis put the turnout in this age group at 36%.
Opinium/The Observer
I think referendums are a good idea, provided they are not too frequent and not on the same issues each time. I agree that there shouldn’t be a 2nd referendum regarding the EU. In a democracy, people have to accept that often, the majority of people will disagree with you. In this case, Remain voters ought to respect the result, and simply campaign for the best deal. Labour in particular, should focus its efforts on holding the government to account for its negotiations. Right now, only Tory MPs seem to be commenting on the matter.
Another referendum whose results should be respected is the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. There should be no 2nd referendum on the matter. Nor should Scotland be given special treatment by the EU. Scotland voted to stay in the UK, and the UK voted to leave the EU. It was a UK-wide decision, so the British government has the right to overrule any SNP desire for a 2nd referendum.