EU Referendum – are you in or out?

The question posed to “the people” was a binary decision. And yes, of course it’s an insanely complex issue which was utterly stupid to frame as a tick box on a ballot paper in the first place. But that’s what happened and so here we are.

Leaving – in any form – goes against the vote of Remain and similarly remaining – in any form – goes against the vote of Leave. If we’re holding up the referendum as being Moses’ tablets in this shitshow then that’s all we have to work with. If you care what people think about the actual form brexit should take (or not) then you’re going to need another referendum.

I’ve said repeatedly what the sensible compromise could look like.

CM2 delivers the referendum result literally, in that we leave the EU, but it doesn’t deliver much of what (in my understanding) the people who voted to leave wanted. Nor does it retain much of what I value as a remainer, such as having an influence in Europe, setting standards, participating in European projects like nuclear fusion and Galileo, and just being there. It’s probably too late now, but if the UK had been fully engaged in the EU, we’d be a relatively big cog driving a relatively big wheel, while CM2 makes us a cog driven by that wheel. We may be the 5th biggest economy (likely to be 8th quite soon) but nowhere near China and USA.

Putting that another way,

If we treat the referendum as the binary question it was, then there is literally no compromise. You cannot sensibly toss a coin and call “edge!” It’s an impossible question.

If however we treat it as the complex issue it is with multiple options – as you rightly suggest – then we have to look at why people voted the way they did, we have to analyse what they thought their vote would bring. Which then raises two questions:

1) Can we leave whilst giving most remain voters what they wanted?

2) Can we remain whilst giving most leave voters what they wanted?

And given that the answer to these questions are “no” and “yes” respectively, that’s your compromise right there.

I don’t see why we need to ask Norway

Because CM 2.0 means joining EFTA.

is waiting for the public outcry when people who didnt think this would affect them …..penny drops

Can we leave whilst giving most remain voters what they wanted?

You assume remain voters are primarily concerned with EU membership and having EU citizenship as a matter of fact, rather than the benefits it brings. I think many, if not most, are only bothered about the benefits and couldn’t care less about the citizenship aspect. If that’s the case then the answer to your first question is yes.

Also I think there are more leave voters who want to be out as a matter of principle than the opposite. In that case then it’s more likely that the answer to the second question is no.

If there is no compromise on either side what do you think will happen? I’ve asked before, but do we have to wait til we’re putting up barricades and forming militias?

Maybe we need a new online poll.

” I voted leave because i believed the lies that were told, but now I would like to remain”

See if that gets a few million votes , then the MP’s can disregard that poll as well

Not sure how you could police it though ..d’oh

Well I’ve said this before many times and so has Cougar. The pragmatic approach of a sensible government would be remain in the EU and attempt reform from within, rather than try to create a completely new relationship from scratch.

I suppose you could suggest if the necessary reform is not forthcoming, leave at that point. Of course this means figuring out exactly what issues are vexing leavers.

Race would be right up there . All those bloomin foriegn types coming over taking all our jobs etc
£350mill a week
MEP wages and pensions has to be contensious
Multi tiered governance .-Euro courts etc

Although I totally agree with Slowoldman, we needed to be in to exert change from within.

The pragmatic approach of a sensible government would be remain in the EU and attempt reform from within

Pre-referendum it was, but then Cameron went and opened Pandora’s box. The pragmatic approach now is to seek the least damaging solution for both sides before they become completely entrenched. We don’t have to like it, we  just have to be able to live with it. The thing I fear most is that if we don’t find ways now to heal the wounds, this could spiral out of control. It may sound far fetched, but those barricades may appear sooner than we think.

From my discussions with both leaver types and remainer types, I’d say it is too late. They are already entrenched.

A lot of the leave folks have been so whipped up by the “no deal is better than a bad deal, democracy is dead” type rhetoric that only a no deal Brexit is acceptable to them.

A lot of the remain folks are so hacked off that the referendum process was flawed and of the behaviour of the Tory hard liners continuing to push for more and more, that they are less willing to accept any kind of compromise than they were straight after the referendum.

I think that unfortunately we are now in the situation where a half and half compromise will please very few. In which case it is all the way in or all the way out as at least approximately 50% of people will then be happy. (until the negatives of either approach kick in)

Just starting BBC2 Laura Kooenunesssssbeurg’s doc on Brexit.

Looks better than just journo talking heads.

We’re talking shallow depth of field.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/09/norway-plus-britain-leavers-remainers-eu

Does it really matter what they vote for tonight?

May will find a way of not implementing it anyway

The compromises that don’t result in economic obliteration don’t tick any boxes for the Brexit crowd.

But please enlighten us to your plan when you get back from rainbowfairyunicorn land….

They are already entrenched.

I’m not so sure. Those who feel strongly and follow it are more likely to be entrenched, especially on the leave side. Outside the bubble though there are huge numbers of people who just want it to be over one way or the other. These are the people who will make a compromise possible.

I agree in that there are plenty of people who want it over…

But….

1) Most folk want it over as long as they get their Brexit (and there are many different types)
2) Most of these folk also don’t understand that whatever we choose, it is far from over. This is just the start… this is going to poison everything for decades.

I’ve come to the pretty depressing conclusion that we are actually screwed which ever way now. I can’t see any way out that isn’t going to result is some serious carnage.

I’m not so sure. Those who feel strongly and follow it are more likely to be entrenched, especially on the leave side. Outside the bubble though there are huge numbers of people who just want it to be over one way or the other. These are the people who will make a compromise possible.

You mean the thickies that are just apathetic? Who the **** cares about them? They won’t riot if Brexit doesn’t go ahead, they’ll just riot if KFC doesn’t get enough chicken.

Call it off, buy in rubber bullets, CS gas and water cannons. Treat the violent brexiteers like we did the Irish, charge them with horses, release police dogs at them and have the police shoot them with rubber and real bullets if needed. Job done, sort it out the old fashioned way.

We need a remainer like this

All hail Tony Blair! 😀

I’m not so sure. Those who feel strongly and follow it are more likely to be entrenched, especially on the leave side. Outside the bubble though there are huge numbers of people who just want it to be over one way or the other. These are the people who will make a compromise possible.

How do propose we find out? Should we ask them?

delivering brexit has become nothing more than a drum to beat, most shouting about know very little, can’t tell us what it delivers or agree what it is yet me must still deliver it or the world will end. You know I’m willing to take the chance of the end of the world.

Many interesting views … hmmmm 🤔

And all voted down.

The DUP voted against everything.

Great.

Customs Union – Lost by 3
Common Market 2.0 – Lost by 21
Public vote – Lost by 12
Revoke if no deal – Lost by 101

What a bunch of blithering idiots.

Very solid numbers for the CU, SM/CU and Conf Vote, all more popular than May’s deal as options.

She is running out of options, I think the SNP just declared to stay in the EU via the other way…

Another one left the Tories

The DUP voted against everything.

Next time I reckon the ayes/nays should be reversed. Their default “NO” will carry the day.
That or offer them some cash for ash.
On a related subject currently a challenge going on against the Electoral commission for not investigating whether the DUP coordinated illegally with the leave campaign around spending on ads.

Inching closer to having to call the whole thing off.

The DUP voted against everything.

Great.

and Cabinet were not allowed to vote.

Most number of “for” votes was for a confirmatory referendum. When we need to tell the EU why we need a long delay, then this may well be nudging past a general election now. Because, with revoke being dismissed, a long extension is now happening. Once “we’ve” decided on our reason. Looking like a referendum on the current withdrawal agreement to me… with multiple contradictory ideas about what the political declaration and post transition relationship might/could be. We’ve learned nothing.

BBC News

😃

Everything kicked out. This is actually good.

May can drag her dead horse deal back to vote (if it’s allowed) for a fourth time. Or is it third? I’ve lost count.

As I keep saying, this has to come down to a binary choice between no deal or revoke a50.

That will sort the wheat from the chaff. Anything else is, and always has been a load of bollix.

Local arsehole MP went all out for the no again.

you do feel sorry for someone, that as the house basically shuffles off to the bar or bed, has to now start a debate about landfill sites. Truly after the lord mayor’s show…….

Got a link for the vote checker?

As I keep saying, this has to come down to a binary choice between no deal or revoke a50.

Then it’s no deal.
Labour whipped to abstain on that straight choice tonight.
Tory no deal proponents have the numbers. Why did Labour abstain? If I suggest a reason the Corbyn believers will offer two pages on me being a liar, or a Tory, or something.

Anyway, it must be clear that this process should have happened before giving the PM the power to trigger A50. And why did Labour support triggering A50 without parliament supplying direction? Again, I’m not going to suggest a reason, to save us the bore off from Corbyn believers.

Got a link for the vote checker?

guardians version

So why did the SNP abstain from the Customs Union vote?

kelvin

Subscriber
As I keep saying, this has to come down to a binary choice between no deal or revoke a50.

Then it’s no deal.
Labour whipped to abstain on that straight choice tonight.

It’s all a game of brinkmanship though, we aren’t there yet. Mays last play to come next.

The Clarke proposal has the least amount of labour rebels voting against it and the most tory rebels voting for it.

So unity government headed by Clarke or No Deal then?

So why did the SNP abstain from the Customs Union vote?

They want FoM. They believe Scotland needs it. Wrap CM2.0 & CU into one amendment, and they’ll back it. That might well happen at the next stage.

Why did Labour abstain?

It’s Labour policy to be frozen like a rabbit in the headlights.

Keep up at the back lol!