If DC thinks Brexit is such a bad idea, why do we get to vote?

[jamesbrown]

We're having a referendum because DC wanted to make sure that anti-Euro Tories didn't vote UKIP instead. The fact is this referendum has happened because of party politics - nothing really to do with democracy, or what's good for the country. All about getting elected.

Yep, the concept was undemoctratic, and now the execution is equally undemoctratic. The irony is that it will probably get even more voters moving to UKIP (and perhaps Tory MPs too). That might be more of an immediate problem than Dave thinks if his dodgy battle bus leads to 30 by-elections within the next year.

[Danglekt]

but, and its a big but, imagine we did leave the EU.

Isn't UKIP out of a job?

And if we vote to stay in, surly that settles it for a generation and UKIP are equally out of a job?

[DodgyAgent]

They did start in 2010 by suggesting there would be austerity. But changed their minds when people suggested they would not vote for them.

Interesting though that their "hidden manifesto" was identical to what Labour had done for previous 13 years. Stuff the NHS, poor, and look after number one.

I will give TB this though. He bombed peace to the Middle East....

[BrilloPad]

but, and its a big but, imagine we did leave the EU.

Isn't UKIP out of a job?

And if we vote to stay in, surly that settles it for a generation and UKIP are equally out of a job?

All the UKIPers can man machine guns at points of entry to ensure no immigrants get in......

[jamesbrown]

but, and its a big but, imagine we did leave the EU.

Isn't UKIP out of a job?

And if we vote to stay in, surly that settles it for a generation and UKIP are equally out of a job?

Nope, I highly doubt it. This won't really settle anything, politically speaking, but I do believe that there won't be an appetite for another referendum. For example, there's no majority appetite in Scotland for a second IndyRef, despite what Sturgeon says (recent polling suggests they don't even want one if we vote to leave the EU), but it's still absolutely central to Scottish politics. Back in England, I think UKIP could be reimagined with significantly more Tories involved (it sounds as though Aaron Banks was trying to start that process a few months back, i.e. think about what comes next). Difficult to know, but there's now an unresolvable rage with Hamface among many Tory supporters, and several years before Hamface goes, so that could push many to a reimagined UKIP, SDP style.

[Mordac]

If you are seeing or reading any of the horse tulipe that is being forced out of the media you can see its pretty much a case of them thinking that they can pretend to give the idiots a vote and then scare the tulip out of them till they get the result that they want....

Well, as they have seen it got the "desired" vote in Ireland over the Lisbon Treaty. If you keep asking the same question, eventually you'll get the answer you want, and suddenly there's no need to ask again...

[PurpleGorilla]

We are owed a vote after the Lisbon treaty let down.

[multiuniversal]

Impact of the referendum

When I first heard about the referendum my first thought was... this is a political game to get leverage in order to get a "special" agreement for the UK.
It makes sense that EU will allow exceptions to their rules if they really want a member state to remain in the EU.

Since it is all voted, every other country will vote in favour or against these exceptions. In the end it is about pros and cons of staying vs leaving.

In this scenario it makes sense the government will call for referendum and then try to influence people to vote to stay if there is a risk of getting more than 50% votes to leave. They don't really want to leave the EU, it is all just a move to get leverage, nothing more.

They even spent £9M in flyers sent to every tax payer home asking them to vote to stay in the EU... I can imagine in the meeting in Brussels they got a deal and agreed to take measures to assure UK stays in the EU. After that they still got several celebrities and influential people to say we should stay in the EU.

Now for another subject, due to all this uncertainty, I'm wondering if any of you guys felt a slow down in business? I get the feeling April / May became a bit erratic in terms of business with people waiting to make their business decisions after the results of the vote.

[VectraMan]

but, and its a big but, imagine we did leave the EU.

Isn't UKIP out of a job?

And if we vote to stay in, surly that settles it for a generation and UKIP are equally out of a job?

Losing appears to be the best thing that could possibly have happened to the SNP. Similarly if Brexit is defeated then it'll be a huge boost to UKIP; they may even get a second MP. No wonder they've been trying so hard to lose the argument.

[DodgyAgent]

Losing appears to be the best thing that could possibly have happened to the SNP. Similarly if Brexit is defeated then it'll be a huge boost to UKIP; they may even get a second MP. No wonder they've been trying so hard to lose the argument.

Cynic