Second quote of the day

 "Sadly, I've known a number of couples who have begun divorce proceedings, but I don't know any who have begun divorce proceedings in order to renew their marriage vows."

(David Cameron during the debate on the European Council negotiations, dismissing the absurd idea that there might be a second referendum if the first one produces a "Leave" vote.)

Comments

Jim said…
That has to fall as the most stupid idea ever, vote leave to get a better deal for reform I mean.

its ridiculous.

Its no secret I want to Leave the EU, and by Leave I mean I want to Leave.

I said nothing about reform, I said LEAVE

I see blogger does not like the < U > tag
6:50 pm
Chris Whiteside said…
The consequences if we held an In-Out referendum, it resulted in a vote to leave, and then we held a second referendum a few months later which was perceived as a means of trying to get round the first one do not bear thinking about. Anything seen as "vote on it again until you get it right" would destroy what faith is left in British democracy.

Whichever way I personally vote - and I would like to see what the "leave" campaign say what exactly they are proposing so I can properly compare the two options on the table before making up my mind - a vote to leave should mean we invoke Article 50 and leave.
8:42 pm
Jim said…
Absolutely anything "vote until you get it right" would destroy anything left of democracy, totally agree.

Though oddly this does not extend to the remain side, sure it does for the question itself, but there would have to be another referendum on any new treaty (under the referendum lock) I think any attempt to use the Leave/remain referendum as a mandate to remove the triple referendum lock would also have the same effect.
9:12 pm
Chris Whiteside said…
Indeed.

A referendum on a new treaty following a "remain" vote would not be a rerun of the "In/Out" referendum but a vote on a different issue, e.g. whether to sign the new treaty or not, so the "vote on it until you get it right" problem would not apply.

If the referendum produces a narrow vote for remain - which I currently think is the most likely outcome, though a narrow vote to leave is also possible - no British PM would dare to sign a treaty he would have to put to a referendum to approve passes powers to Brussels anytime in the next few years.

That would not apply if Remain won the sort of victory they did in 1975 but although many of the parallels are remarkable I don't think a landslide for either side is going to happen. There are too many entrenched views on both sides.
10:32 pm
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