The smart move would be to do Brexit the same way NZ did their flag referendum. First, consult to figure out a small number of possible popular forms of Brexit: soft, hard, technically-still-in-but-with-more-opt-outs? Work it out in enough detail that people can have a relatively clear idea of the goal of each of the 3–5 options, including details like migration, Northern Ireland, and agricultural policy.
Then, put those small number of options to a vote. Ideally using Instant Runoff Voting or Approval Voting, rather than First Past the Post. “Do nothing at all” is not an option at this stage.
Finally, put the option that won the last vote in a head-to-head vote against “do nothing at all”. If the “exit” vote wins, trigger article 50 and negotiate according to the clearly-stated goals of the people.
“Brexit means Brexit”, tory MPs kept saying. Absolute nonsense. Brexit meant a thousand things to a thousand people. Pretending otherwise made a mockery of democracy.
It’s absolutely insane that New Zealand put more effort into proper democratic processes over something as trivial as their flag design than the UK did over their most fundamental piece of foreign policy.
I wish Brexit was a symbolic vote.
It was…
Then it wasn’t.
But what would be the point of having a referendum, getting the results and then just saying “oh right, that’s interesting” and doing nothing?
The smart move would be to do Brexit the same way NZ did their flag referendum. First, consult to figure out a small number of possible popular forms of Brexit: soft, hard, technically-still-in-but-with-more-opt-outs? Work it out in enough detail that people can have a relatively clear idea of the goal of each of the 3–5 options, including details like migration, Northern Ireland, and agricultural policy.
Then, put those small number of options to a vote. Ideally using Instant Runoff Voting or Approval Voting, rather than First Past the Post. “Do nothing at all” is not an option at this stage.
Finally, put the option that won the last vote in a head-to-head vote against “do nothing at all”. If the “exit” vote wins, trigger article 50 and negotiate according to the clearly-stated goals of the people.
“Brexit means Brexit”, tory MPs kept saying. Absolute nonsense. Brexit meant a thousand things to a thousand people. Pretending otherwise made a mockery of democracy.
It’s absolutely insane that New Zealand put more effort into proper democratic processes over something as trivial as their flag design than the UK did over their most fundamental piece of foreign policy.
What would be the point of having a referendum and deciding that 51% was enough to burn it all without a plan?
The stupidity of politicians is not a reason to ignore what people vote for.
I didn’t say ignore the vote. Your reading comprehension is atrocious.
Let me think… Possibly because it was based on lies, manipulation and the significant part of the UK residents were disenfranchised?
Who was disenfranchised? It was the biggest democratic vote in the UK’s history, if I recall correctly.
Just three million of EU citizens in the UK and hundreds of thousands of UK citizens in the EU.
They can’t vote in general elections either.
Your point is? They live in the UK, pay taxes here - and by the way, they were able to vote in Scottish Independence referendum.
I would like to see Tories if SNP were to exclude English voters from the independence vote.
That would be denying UK citizens a right to vote in a UK referendum, so that’s not even close to the same thing.