Quote of the day 13th January 2018

"The biggest problem with a second referendum would he a repeat of what happened in Scotland."

"People don't like referendums on the whole: they didn't like falling out with family members or friends and they had no desire to repeat the experience, which is why the SNP did worse."

 "The anger at simply 'having to do this debate over again' would, I suspect, be a major hindrance to any 'Remain' campaign should the miraculous happen and a parliamentary majority for a second referendum emerge."

(Stephen Bush, article in the New Statesman which you can read here.)

Comments

Jim said…
I would argue.

People do like referendums, it makes sure the peoples voice is heard. what people dont like is politicans refusing to accept the desision that has been made.

Scotland voted to remain members of the UK, the UK voted to leave the EU. it really is that simple
6:05 pm
Chris Whiteside said…
I absolutely agree with you that one of the things people don't like is some politicians refusing to accept the decisions the electorate have made.

If you had asked me over most of my adult life whether voters like the principle of referenda I would have said, yet, they like being asked their opinion (as long as the result is respected). It may well be that this is generally the case.

But I think that just at the moment Stephen Bush is right about a large chunk of the electorate who found Indyref and EU referendum very divisive, didn't like falling out with people who took a different view, and have had quite enough of them for a few years.

They probably won't stay in that mindset for ever, but I think he speaks for a lot of people in 2018.
9:46 pm
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