The referendum - how will YOU vote?

[Simon Wilson]

There is a whole raft of stuff they are holding back on until after the referendum, just something to think about.

I don't know who you mean by 'they'. The UK electorate elected the UK government into power and like it or not it is the duly elected government. If you mean the EU then they are governed by a parliament which we (the EU electorate) elect and which form legislation that has to be agreed by consensus of the member states in a system which is arguably more democratic than the UK parliament. So I can't see any 'they'; I can only see 'us' unless you mean a faction within UK politics in which case there are several 'theys' which sadly are more divided thanks to the insidious nature of Fascism.

 

[tamarmole]

If the vote goes in favour of leaving I  wonder if Scotland will use it as a pretext for bailing from the uk?

 

[David Rose]

There are some good arguments in favour of Leave, but they have barely been heard amid the shameless, misleading populism. Leave has no coherent vision for what would happen starting tomorrow if it wins. I fear economic and political catastrophe if it does, so I've voted Remain. And I agree with Alex, too. My daughter Nushy has put all this very well in a piece published in the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/06/22/the-brexit-debate-has-made-britain-more-racist/?postshare=6271466613348892&tid=ss_fb-bottom

 

[Laurie]

Err they already said there will be NO re-entry deals if we leave.

A lot of things have been said....

 

[royfellows]

There is a whole raft of stuff they are holding back on until after the referendum, just something to think about.

I don't know who you mean by 'they'. The UK electorate elected the UK government into power and like it or not it is the duly elected government. If you mean the EU then they are governed by a parliament which we (the EU electorate) elect and which form legislation that has to be agreed by consensus of the member states in a system which is arguably more democratic than the UK parliament.

We all know about democracy

 

[Chocolate fireguard]

Funny thing democracy.

A large group of people (half of whom are of below average intelligence and many of whom don't really understand the issues) elect a smaller group to run things.

This smaller group is generally much brighter and more familiar with the nitty gritty of running things.

When a really important decision has to be made it is passed to a large group of people (half of whom are of below average .....).

 

[Madness]

I've voted to leave, but I think the 'stay' side will win by a narrow margin.

But I think that as a country we can't actually lose either way. What all this has done is bought the discontent about the EU to the fore, not just in the UK but Europe wide. Other countries are now wanting referendums I'm led to believe. I personally think that this will be a major wake up call for the EU and will prompt change.

If we do leave we will probably go through a 'sticky patch' but ultimately I believe we will be better off as a nation. By 'better off' I don't necessarily mean that we'll all have more money in our pockets either.

 

[Moose]

At the end of the day.....it gets dark. That's all I've got to say on the matter.

 

[Laurie]

At the end of the day.....it gets dark. That's all I've got to say on the matter.

At least it's a nice long day...

 

[royfellows]

I dont think that any clear decision should be taken unless there is a clear mandate from the people. Whichever way the vote goes, if the majority is only by a small margin then a permanent decision should be deferred pending another referendum in say 2 years time.

 

[Alex]

Or just an MP vote?

 

[tony from suffolk]

I dont think that any clear decision should be taken unless there is a clear mandate from the people. Whichever way the vote goes, if the majority is only by a small margin then a permanent decision should be deferred pending another referendum in say 2 years time.

Oh no, absolutely not. The whole process has been immensely expensive, divisive, and time-consuming. Once decided, then that should be that for at least a generation, unless some major change takes place within the EU. We elect MPs to decide matters for us; if we don't like what they've done we can vote them out, but it's their responsibility to make the best decisions for the good of the country.

 

[royfellows]

If the outcome is to remain in by a narrow margin then nothing will change, and there could always be another referendum, OK, say in 10 years time?
But if its leave, and its only by a narrow margin, then should we be making an irreversible decision without a clear mandate?

Of course, remaining in after such an outcome would indeed come in for a lot of criticism, so another referendum within a reasonable timescale would have to be on the cards.

What think?

 

[MJenkinson]

I just hope that whatever the outcome it doesn't completely split the country.  It would be nice for those who voted for whatever the actual end result is, to take into account the concerns of others and work towards resolving them / reducing them / allaying fears. Whatever happens we are all living here so best get it sorted.

For example, for those who vote in, I really hope you pressure the hell out of the government to not sign TTIP even as a member of the EU.  I don't want to see the NHS attacked.

For those who vote out..well I guess the biggest fear for some there is that the economy will go breasts up and not sure there is much you as an individual can do about it! But you get my drift.

 

[AR]

But if its leave, and its only by a narrow margin, then should we be making an irreversible decision without a clear mandate?

There was something I'd been mulling over, and I found exactly the same thought discussed on the BBC this morning, that in the event of a narrow "leave" vote, it could potentially be overturned. Following a general election a party, or majority of parties, standing with remaining as part of their manifesto, could vote to stop the exit process and claim a democratic mandate to do so which would overrule today's vote as it post-dated it. Not likely, but not impossible either.

 

[Olaf]

Being German and only a resident in this country rather than citizen, my opinion doesn't matter. But since I'm about to move away back to the Eurozone soon, I do hope that I can get my savings out of the country before the exchange rate goes bust. My only hope is that in case of "Leave", the Euro will go down just as much as the Pound... which, on second thought, is not really a good prospect!

 

[Mr Fell]

Bookies are saying in will win😄

 

[cavermark]

At the end of the day.....it gets dark. That's all I've got to say on the matter.

Not in all European countries at this time of year...  :tease:

 

[RobinGriffiths]

But if its leave, and its only by a narrow margin, then should we be making an irreversible decision without a clear mandate?

There was something I'd been mulling over, and I found exactly the same thought discussed on the BBC this morning, that in the event of a narrow "leave" vote, it could potentially be overturned. Following a general election a party, or majority of parties, standing with remaining as part of their manifesto, could vote to stop the exit process and claim a democratic mandate to do so which would overrule today's vote as it post-dated it. Not likely, but not impossible either.

If Leave wins, if I were Cameron, I'd just hand the keys of no. 10 to Boris, and leave him to clear up the unholy mess.

 

[tony from suffolk]

Boris? As PM? The man's a buffoon, a fake, and a liar, who's only interested in Boris. So, good PM material then...