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[Closed] EU Referendum - are you in or out?

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Note that revoking doesn't even require an act of parliament as some had suggested. Since the first act only empowered (and did not mandate) the PM to invoke A50 it logically leaves the power in their hands to pursue the process or not. I can see a new PM being appointed at the last minute to actually take the decision formally at the end of March next year. I do hope sanity prevails before then, but at least we have this backstop 🙂


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 10:06 am
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There must be another referendum politically and indeed practically otherwise the leave propaganda will ramp up and the far right emboldened.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 10:15 am
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It's almost as if we have sovereignty whilst still members of the EU, this'll not please the gammons as it seems sovereignty- they don't like it up 'em


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 10:23 am
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…otherwise the leave propaganda will ramp up and the far right emboldened.

(Psst … the far right will be emboldened by whatever happens over the next few years, why do you think USA far right players backed Brexit? Even if the vote had been 52:48 the other way in 2016, it would have still played into their hands,
; division and damage come what may. Prepare for the "betrayal by the UK elites" narratives, whether we leave or not. Prepare for the "evil unelected EU acting against us" narratives, whether we leave or not.)


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 10:34 am
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The difference is tho by having a second referendum it removes the foundation of their attack line " the will of the people"


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 10:42 am
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That's precisely what I said a few posts back.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 10:45 am
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Problem with a ref is that leave might win and then there will we be.

2nd problem is that there isn't time, and it is much easier to revoke than extend A50 (extension may even be refused).

Therefore we revoke first, then spend a year arguing about the terms of a referendum, never actually hold it, until enough gammons die off that opinion shifts firmly against.

I'm not saying this will definitely happen but it's a plausible outcome.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 11:00 am
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We cannot revoke then start article 50 again - thats clear in the text of the decision

Plenty of time for a referendum - we can have general elections at a months notice.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 11:02 am
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Not true.

We can revoke, but can not put "terms" on the revocation to change the terms of our membership. A future decision can be made to trigger A50 again… but, once again, can not be used to game the system and alter terms of membership. If any country did this repeatly, you can be sure A50 would be changed by a subsequent treaty to stop this kind of action in law. As it stands, A50 can be revoked and retriggered. Legally. Lord Kerr has been saying this for two years, and the ECJ today confirmed it. Go read.

Also not true.

The procedure for calling for a referendum, forming the question, and allowing a campaign period, is clearly set out, and is not the same, or even similar too, a general election.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 11:03 am
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We can revoke and if we choose to invoke it again the EU can just point and laugh and say "ok there's the deal, it's the same as last time".


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 11:15 am
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Or, they may offer us something that gives us even less room for manoeuvre, as they'd be even less trust that we wouldn't try and game a transition period and/or backstop arrangement. Lack of trust/faith would result in a legally tighter withdrawl agreement, I suspect.

But, my point is, having revoked A50, if we still voted to Leave, we could properly prepare to do so, while still being a member, and wouldn't need a transition period on EU terms. We trigger again when we're sure we can be ready to trade as a third country. There is not a chance in hell we can be ready by March.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 11:21 am
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they may offer us something that gives us even less room for manoeuvre,

That's exactly the line that Leave would use in any 2nd Ref campaign. "We have this deal to leave, take it or the next one won't be as good" (good is obviously a relative term here). Add that to denouncing anything contrary as "Project Fear" and you can steer a lot of the electorate quite easily.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 11:47 am
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The EU must be very close to telling the UK to 'do one'.
From Sweden to Spain the Far Right is gaining power, France is rioting, Germany has a coalition made of paper, drown children are washing up of the beaches of Greece and we think Brexit is important to them.
It isn't.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 11:52 am
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That’s exactly the line that Leave would use in any 2nd Ref campaign.

That's fine… if we withdraw our A50 notification, and hold another referendum…

Leave win… we have bought at least two years to prepare to be a third country (gov could choose to make it longer if necessary) by cancelling A50 and taking back control.

Remain win… we have kept our opt outs and carve outs that we would not be able to regain if we leave and later rejoin the EU.

Both options are better then either leaving in 2019 with no deal, or signing away control/sovereignty with the current withdrawal agreement.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 11:53 am
 MSP
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So labour still pushing brexit on their terms ahead of a second referendum... sigh.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 12:11 pm
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Kelvin - on the referendum - that can be changed by an act of parliament - the very act that would be needed to hold a referendum. There is no practical bar to having a referendum in a month. there may be political or legislative ones. but they can be overcome


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 12:16 pm
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How would that be better than withdrawing A50 and then holding a referendum, TJ? What makes you think Parliament could change how referendums are conducted quickly? Would a rushed referendum, based on rushed legislation, be more or less open to abuse than one we take time over? What happens when/if Leave win and we only have weeks left before we are due to Leave? If we have a referendum, we need to be ready to carry out either result… I think 2016 should have taught everyone that.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 12:21 pm
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I just think that revoking a50 without a referendum first is unacceptable politically. Its never going to happen. The only way we can revoke a50 practically is to hold another referendum first.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 12:28 pm
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And… if Leave win? Then what?

Revoking A50, then holding a referendum, gives us two paths that are better than what we are currently heading for… it either gives us the time and control to prepare to be a third country, or it enables us to keep our current terms of membership.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 12:30 pm
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What happens when/if Leave win and we only have weeks left before we are due to Leave?

We leave on the terms of mays deal

If the government falls then an incoming government could ask for an extension but the whole idea that parliament revokes a50 is a non starter. It immediately gives the leave side the beast weapons they could wish for.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 12:30 pm
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Cabinet ministers on standby for emergency call with PM, apparently.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 12:32 pm
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Tomorrow's vote cancelled according to Bloomberg.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 12:51 pm
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BBC are now reporting that May is about to postpone tomorrows vote. Not to worry. Theres plenty of time to sort all this out

What an absolute farce!


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 12:52 pm
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Lots of different scenarios being bounced around. What are our predictions then?

From where I sit, I think the following could play out (in most to least likely):

1) May loses vote but clings on to power. Lots of Parliamentary shennanigans resulting in an extension to A50, based mostly on fudge. EU will approve as the only alternative is no deal. After that, who knows? 2 more years of can-kicking. May be another GE and 2nd Referendum?

2) May loses vote and says that parliament has decided that no deal is better than her deal.

In the ensuing chaos of scenario 2 all sorts could happen, including us actually leaving with no deal.

I still think no deal is more likely than no Brexit. Sadly, I really think our best hope is to extend A50 and keep kicking the can until 2nd referendum and hope we get a monster turn out and convincing majority vote remain.

Fascinating how fast it changes though. Only a week or so ago, I thought May’s deal would squeak through.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 12:54 pm
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Surely, surely, surely if the vote gets pulled then today has to be the day?

Although, I must have thought that 17 times so far and every time she calls a press conference and waffles about nothing for half an hour.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 12:56 pm
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😂

And in the time it took me to write that, looks like all change again!

Christ, even Armando Ianucci couldn’t have thought this up!


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 12:57 pm
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Armando Ianucci commented that there would be no point doing any more of 'The Thick of It' as politics in Brexit Britain is now beyond satire.

He's not wrong


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:09 pm
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Laura Kuenssberg reporting that vote cancelled and also a statement on article 50 expected later today.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:20 pm
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No 10 spokesman just said it's definitely happening tomorrow, as did Gove earlier, but

https://twitter.com/business/status/1072092436246212608?s=19


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:25 pm
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how much longer can this farce go on?


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:29 pm
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Ooo,can't wait for an update from BoJo.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:32 pm
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How can she unilaterally cancel a vote


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:33 pm
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A ****ing disgrace.

By May's argument the original brexit vote should've been postponed or cancelled until all the facts were known and confirmed.

Been offered a role in dublin with current client. Heavily tempted to get my Irish passport sorted and **** off out this shit hole until it all dies down


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:41 pm
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How can she unilaterally cancel a vote

Allegedly, she's in charge of the government, which, allegedly, controls the legislative agenda.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:41 pm
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it will go on until either there is a general election, and we can vote (normally) to avoid brexit, or we have another ref. when sense will hopefully prevail.

or we can just watch the car crash happen, slowly, until everyone is dead in the road.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:41 pm
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I might have a way into a Dutch job. Shame the biking is so shit, otherwise I'd be there like a shot.

Statement on A50 - postponement? Don't think she will cancel it.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:42 pm
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How can she unilaterally cancel a vote

By just cancelling the vote, it's kind of that simple, she does not need to present a bill to parliament if she doesn't want to.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:42 pm
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Party before country! Again.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:43 pm
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With GBP:EUR taking another dip, is it that the forex market thinks no deal brexit has increased in likelihood rather than a revocation of article 50?


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:46 pm
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It'll be due to the instability and uncertainty I'd guess.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:47 pm
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With GBP:EUR taking another dip, is it that the forex market thinks no deal brexit has increased in likelihood rather than a revocation of article 50?

Or they make both ways, this time it's the turn of secret group A, next week the agreed to let the other lot make some cash.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:50 pm
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it’s kind of that simple

No, it isn't. Any chance of people making an effort to get informed about how our democracy actually functions? This thread is depressing full of statements made as if absolute, without first making reference to fact.

The business of the house can be altered at any time, but not uniltately by the government without requesting permission from parliament.

it will go on until either there is a general election, and we can vote (normally) to avoid brexit

How, given our first past the post system, with both parties having Brexit in their manifestos, can you vote for your MP go towards avoiding Brexit?


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:50 pm
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A50 statement seems to be "we signed up to it before the ecj ruling so the ruling doesn't apply to us". Yeah right.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:50 pm
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By just cancelling the vote, it’s kind of that simple, she does not need to present a bill to parliament if she doesn’t want to.

Peston saying MPs are planning to reject May's motion to cancel the vote..


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:51 pm
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Allegedly

There you go.... Laughing


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:51 pm
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No, it isn’t. Any chance of people making an effort to get informed about how our democracy actually functions?

OK so who decides what bills go to the house and when? Who can decide not to put it up for a vote?


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:52 pm
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A50 statement seems to be “we signed up to it before the ecj ruling so the ruling doesn’t apply to us”. Yeah right.

Really? I can't tell if that's a joke…

ECJ rules that it is the nation state's government's power as to when/if to Leave the EU…

…UK government say that you can't force that power/responsibility onto us.

Weird world.

Take back control.

Sovereignty.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 1:56 pm
 igm
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Molgrips - one word. Cyclocross.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 2:09 pm
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So, let me get this right (as I’ve been away from this thread for a little while)

A50 can now be cancelled without the agreement of the other 27 nations.

May has half of a nothing “plan”

So, let’s cancel Brexit and get on with our lives whilst watching the brexiteers have exploding heads .

Certainly save on the NHS budget.

Take back the EU 👍

Stop being racists 👍


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 2:12 pm
 DrJ
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Surely she is just trying to run down the clock so much that other "soft Brexit" options become impracticable and there is a choice only between her deal and no deal?


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 2:20 pm
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Really? I can’t tell if that’s a joke…

Saw it reported on a news site from a goverment source but can't track it down again. So either my Google fu is weak, it was removed from the page or I imagined the last 2 years and it was all a bad dream. I'm hoping for #3.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 2:20 pm
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[quote="Sturgeon"]

Assuming these reports are accurate, this is a watershed moment and an act of pathetic cowardice by a Tory government which has run out of road and is now collapsing into utter chaos. It is final proof that the interests of a deeply-divided Tory party matter far more to the prime minister than people’s jobs and living standards. That is an unforgivable dereliction of responsibility, and the UK government should now get out of the way and allow others to take charge.

It appears the vote is being delayed because of the Tory party civil war, and in a desperate attempt to save the prime minister’s job. Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain but yet again our views are being ignored, as they have been throughout this disastrous and incompetent Brexit process.

The prime minister’s deal should come before the House of Commons immediately so that it can be voted down and we can replace Tory chaos with a solution that will protect jobs, living standards and Scotland’s place in Europe.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 2:21 pm
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Sturgeon hasn't missed and hit the wall there that's for sure


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 2:25 pm
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No truer word written IMO.

Except she leaves out England in that statement, i’ll forgive her that because the English treat the Scottish with little respect as it is.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 2:28 pm
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Got a link to what Sturgeon said, missed it.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 2:36 pm
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Molgrips – one word. Cyclocross.

Like I said....


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 2:48 pm
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cultsdave - I posted the text above.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 2:53 pm
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Cannot seem to embed a video, so here is the link. Saw it this morning and it made me chuckle!


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 3:07 pm
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Nicola and Jez can't topple the government on their own.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 3:19 pm
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PM told Cabinet Tories would suffer a 'notable' loss if they pressed ahead with vote on her deal.

She said 'risks are too great' and she is going back to Brussels to secure 'legally-binding assurance' we won't be trapped in backstop indefinitely

From the telegraph

Really? really? REALLY?
How deluded is she? The NI backstop has to be indefinite and has to not be unilaterally ended by the UK or its pointless and has no value.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 3:20 pm
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So, let me get this right (as I’ve been away from this thread for a little while)

A50 can now be cancelled without the agreement of the other 27 nations.

May has half of a nothing “plan”

So, let’s cancel Brexit and get on with our lives whilst watching the brexiteers have exploding heads .

Certainly save on the NHS budget.

Take back the EU 👍

Stop being racists 👍

I, like you, don't spend too much time on this thread, it's bad for my heart.

It would be nice wouldn't it?

Every poll I've seen, either in my echo chamber Twitter feed, or on the News says that the Public are fed up with it.

Scores of Leave voters are making public statements in their own little ways to say they feel cheated by Vote Leave and would vote to stay now, given the chance.

Every promise they made has proven to be false.

Not a single Brexiteer is brave enough to say "Okay, this is what will really happen if we leave, no, let's let the public decide."

The Tories have imploded, The hardcore Brexiteers, whilst not large enough in number to actually force anything, are running around like saboteurs setting fire to everything and anything they can to try to force one of them into No 10 somehow. This wouldn't usually be a problem in such a time of national crisis, if it wasn't for the fact that the opposition is lead by a spineless, snide prick who would will happily **** us all over, to get there himself.

The only 'party' that's been damaged more by this than the Tories is UKIP, who, for all intents and purposes don't exist any more, the very 'real' reason why we got in this mess in the first place has gone, yet here we are.

Frankly I'd be delighted more than surprised if the Queen sends the lot of them to the tower until sense prevails.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 3:55 pm
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May heading to Brussels to try and renegotiate the Irish backstop

A) if there was a better alternative then surely that would've been included in the deal already

B) I hope the EU tell her to **** off


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:02 pm
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So it is party before country.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:07 pm
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So it is party before country.

Has it ever been anything else, it's just becoming more obvious to everyone now


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:09 pm
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She said ‘risks are too great’

No shit!


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:12 pm
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https://twitter.com/MarkJohnstonLD/status/1072131932757078016

EU saving her the bus fare


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:13 pm
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I was about to post that.

If May goes cap in hand to Brussels and they tell her to do one, she's going to look even worse, she's absolutely out of options bar one...


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:15 pm
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So it is party before country.

To the Tories keeping Labour out is putting the country first as they Labour just wouldn't do things so well as they do


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:16 pm
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Theres never been any negotiation, and there certainly won't be one now. The EU held all the cards right from day one.

It was surely obvious to anyone with anything between their ears that any 'deal' would involve the EU deciding what it wanted then putting it in front of us to sign, with the words "there you go. Take it or *in' leave it!"

Unfortunately it looks like a no deal Brexit just became a very real possibility. The idea that self-serving morons like Rees-Mogg, IDS, John Redwood, Bill Cash, Boris *ing Johnson and their ilk could get what they've always wanted absolutely terrifies me!


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:25 pm
 DrJ
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Has it ever been anything else, it’s just becoming more obvious to everyone now

Well, sometimes it's "career before country", so compared to, say Boris Johnson, "party before country" is relatively principled.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:30 pm
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the omnishambles rumbles on


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:33 pm
 Drac
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I wonder if this was on the plan on someone's desk that no one else could see.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:34 pm
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I wonder if this was on the plan on someone’s desk that no one else could see.

where is THM?


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:39 pm
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May is basically a condemned prisoner, chewing her final meal as slowly as possible so she can delay the inevitable as long as possible


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:40 pm
 Drac
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He's not here anynore. Not sure why you brought him up.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:40 pm
 DrJ
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May is basically a condemned prisoner, chewing her final meal as slowly as possible so she can delay the inevitable as long as possible

And she resembles that poor bugger who saved his last dessert "for later"


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:44 pm
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He’s not here anynore. Not sure why you brought him up.

To be fair to jam bo, Walter did regularly allude to documents to which he was privy but normal people didn’t have access.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:46 pm
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Holy shit, Corbyn is effing useless. He can't even read his own statement without making a hash of it.


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:50 pm
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Bercow signalling the "oh yes we will" after May's "oh no we won't" - what a pantomime!


 
Posted : 10/12/2018 4:55 pm
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