Referenda Infinitum (Brexit)

Democracy is about listening to the people and not ignoring their wishes. Democracy is about fulfilling the wishes of the public.

This is achieved by providing people with choices in elections and referenda. In this manner, the more often people are listened to, the more choices they are given, the more democratic their society. Thus countries are more democratic if they provide more choices.

Subsequent choices don’t ignore what people said before.

Instead, follow-up choices are a way to hear what people say now, to hear further contributions from the public. People have a habit of changing their minds so they should be able to express this with new choices.

If the public change their mind on something, it is democratic to follow through on it.

Without doubt, the talk of a second Brexit referendum is the best example.

More people wanted to leave the EU than stay so it is only right that we start to leave. But if more people now want to stay in the EU then that should happen, then it is only right that we stop Brexit.

It is democratic to fulfil the wishes of the public, wishes dictated by people who can change their minds.

This doesn’t lead to referendum after referendum on the issue.

If a second one favours leaving the EU then that is the end of the matter. If after people know what leaving the EU entails and they still vote to do so, it is only democratic to follow through and proceed with Brexit.

Remainers would have the right to complain but they wouldn’t have the right to demand a third Brexit referendum. Instead, they could only demand a referendum on re-joining the EU.

I say all this as a Remainer, as someone who sees leaving the EU as a massive mistake. But my belief in democracy is more important than my political affiliations.

Besides, Brexit was fought for certain reasons: if those reasons can’t be achieved, the UK shouldn’t leave the EU (see the link below for an article on this). Brexit was for full sovereignty and, with the delicate Irish border, it seems farfetched that we can escape the Court of European Justice. If so, there’s no point in continuing with Brexit.