An Englishman Wonders If Brexit Will Actually Happen
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Former United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) leader and a key player in the successful Brexit campaign, Nigel Farage, has begun issuing warnings to Brexiteers.
It seems there is a real and present danger that, despite 52% of the UK voting to leave the European Union (EU) it is beginning to look like it won’t happen.
Having spoken to the EU chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, Farage believes the final deal offered by the EU may be so poor it will be summarily rejected by the British Government.
In such an eventuality, in theory, we would then simply ‘crash out’ with no deal.
Farage believes that the government will not take that option and may hold a second referendum in an attempt to scupper Brexit altogether.
As a result, Farage is starting to ‘martial the troops’ in preparation for a possible second referendum.
Of course, if such a thing occurs, it is quite possible that the ‘leave’ side could win again with an increased majority but, clearly, the ‘remain’ side could also emerge victorious.
Should a second referendum occur, for whatever reason, the result would, potentially, have considerable consequences for British democracy.
If, for example, the ‘leave’ side won again, whether with an increased majority or even with a similar small majority to the original one, surely the ‘remain’ side would finally have to accept defeat. Losing one referendum may have been careless but losing two and you just have to give up really.
If, however, the ‘remain’ side were to win a second referendum it really would have to be by a sizable majority. Anything less and the ‘leave’ camp would be entitled to demand a third as in a ‘best of three’ which would be, frankly, ridiculous but, never the less, justified given that if ‘leave’ won by a small majority, which they did, and ‘remain’ are struggling to accept it, they can hardly expect ‘leave’ to accept their victory by an equally narrow majority.
So, if – and at the moment it is no more than an ‘if’ – a second referendum ever happens, ‘leave’ can celebrate with a victory regardless of the majority size of it. ‘Remain’ need a victory of a reasonable size to justify stopping Brexit.
Given the ‘let’s keep having referendums until we get the result the EU want’ business in Ireland regarding joining the Euro along with, I believe, other occasional ‘let’s have another until the EU get the result they want’ referendums – wasn’t there one such in Belgium once? – more and more Brexiteers are fearing the worst.
The worst, from a Brexiteers perspective, is that the EU offer a lousy deal to Britain – very likely – the British government reject it out of hand quite rightly but then, rather than just walk away, insist on a further referendum to see if the Brits can be persuaded to remain after all.
Now I know many at MMA think Britain is insane to want to leave but, with respect, you’re American in general, so understanding the mentality of many Brits regarding the EU is not easy.
Personally, as I have said before, I voted to remain in an organization I detest as young people want to and, after all, it’s their future. I’m nice like that.
Whilst many Brexiteers voted ‘leave’ because of immigration and the amount of money we give to the EU, a considerable number voted ‘leave’ for the reason I would have done.
The direction of travel of the EU.
Full unification of Europe with a centralized government. The Euro as the currency in all EU countries. A European army.
All of that is anathema to me. We have enough trouble with the politicians who answer to us without having to put up with ‘European’ politicians who do not have to answer to us. I hate the very concept with a vengeance.
Still, we are where we are, as they say.
If there is a second referendum, I suspect I will struggle to grit my teeth and vote ‘remain’. I did it once and once is more than enough.
Britain is and will remain, a democracy even if the ‘remainers’ do succeed in scuppering Brexit. After all, my daughter will be happy which means a great deal to me. Quite how much we will appreciate our democracy if such a thing happens is another matter. We may ask the very stupid question ‘are we really a democracy?’ – Of course, we are! Imperfections and all.
After all, Brexiteers, if you do end up feeling like you’ve been stitched up you can always go and live in Saudi Arabia or Iran or North Korea. That would soon bring back fond memories of living in Britain!
Besides, our Nige is ‘martialing the troops.’ Who knows what the outcome of a second referendum would be? I certainly don’t but just imagine a larger majority of Brexiteers in favor of leaving than last time. It’s a big risk for both sides but, if Farage could pull it off again it would really be party time!
Rule Britannia!
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Of course Norman/Neil agrees with Farage and I find it extremely unlikely he voted to remain. Everything he says makes it pretty obvious and he’s previously admitted supporting right wing groups.
Farage honest? Yeah course he is ha ha. Friend of trump and his supporters!
I agree with Bobbie re trump and us leaving Europe it’s all a joke but we won’t be laughing.
Hey Neil do you still Love Farage? Lol lol. Bet not ay?
I admire him. What you see is what you get and he speaks his mind.
I don’t always agree with him but, politically speaking, he is at least honest, and there are so few honest politicians around they need a preservation order slapped on them 😉
You and I can disagree with some things he says but at least we know it isn’t the usual smoke and mirrors we generally get from polticians regardless of their supposed ideologies.
You think autocorrect is bad? You should try it using several languages (I’m multilingual) when orthocorrect (sic!) doesn’t notice me switching between languages. Hillary hairy us!
😂😂😂
‘Amend’s or but’?????
Sometimes it’s the lunatic autocorrect on my mobiley and I don’t spot it!!! 😀
@4D : Surely “Marshalling the troops” ? Or is “Martialling the troops”
an insider-joke I’m missing? Please explain.
I’m giving the game away here…oh well…as it’s you….
I misspell to see who picks it up.
Sometimes, of course, it’s American spelling rather than misspelling.
Mike, our editor, often does and amend’s or but, sometimes I get the odd one through probably because it’s mistakenly thought of as ‘British’ spelling.
I like being mischievous 😉
I try to keep the British spelling, despite what autocorrect wants. Once in a while, I correct out of habit.
Junker is approaching the end of his five year term, so if he is going to create a USSR-Style Superstate, he’d better get a move on.
Talking of Russia, Putin is laughing his ass off at the goings on within the EU and USA. Division everywhere in the western world. A strong Europe is not what he wants. He wants his Warsaw Pact countries back.
It’s Junkers dream – and others. His tenure ending doesn’t matter.
I have no issue with his desire. He is, at least, honest about it.
I just disagree is all.
I strongly suspect you’re spot on about Putin. There may be trouble ahead….
Clarification : the EU is nothing like the USA. The USA is one country divided into states. The EU is 27 independent countries.
Their independence is being whittled away via a single currency, an EU army and ever closer political union.
Those in favor say ‘aye’ those against ‘nay’.
It’s as simple as that.
28 with us….Freudian slip 😂
Remains win second time around, if there are s s second time around.
Could well be.
If there is and they do I hope its a big win though or the bloody thing’ll go on and on and on and on…..
Don’t be afraid Mr. Bamforth, don’t be afraid. You seem very confused, are you for Brexit, or against. You suggest you are for, but voted remain because of the future of the youth would be in jeopardy? But never again, or maybe you would. It’s not clear. Were there tears of joy when Brexit won, or of sadness because your children’s future is in tatters. The world smirks at the USA because of our President, they smirk at Britain too for shooting yourself in both feet.
52% of people who voted chose Brexit. That 52% represented 35% of the population. Makes our Electoral College seem quite sane.
Do you think Neil is afraid of you and your silly, smart ass remarks. I don’t think so.
Dude/ette he’s just not that into you, you thirsty bitch, he’s married and loves his missus. It’s really pitiful and pathetic the way you are throwing yourself at him like that. Give it up, he will never be yours. Hope this helps with your delusional outlook.
Whoa! You go girl! Tell that Master Bates what time it is.
It’s 10 in the morning over here 😀
I am and I do indeed!!! 😀
Just noticed….married and love my missus I meant! 😀
She isn’t very up to speed with life in Blighty so it’s no biggy….
I totally agree on the percentage thing. It’s crazy! Mind you, unless you make turning out to vote a legal requirement what can you do eh?
You are also correct on Brexit. Would I vote out or in?
Desire = out. Thought process = it isn’t my future it’s theirs so grit the teeth.
Damn this conscience 😉
You may or may not know this Mr Bamforth, but I’ll tell you anyway.
This country is a Union. A Union of 50 diverse States from the Arctic Circle to the sub-tropics. Each with their own laws and political system of Governors, States Senators and Legislative Assembly. Some States occasionally threaten to secede from the Union, some did in 1860s and bad blood related to the carnage still festers. But considering all that could go wrong with such a massive, culturally diverse area, the United States Of America keeps on ticking. We have endured, and are enduring, much to make this imperfect Union remain intact. We are the EU on steroids.
Britain needs to assert itself within the EU and not go scrambling for an Empire that is long gone.
Empire? Earth calling Bobbie 😂
We haven’t got nor desire an empire. We want to leave an empire in the making.
Comparing US states to the EU doesn’t work love.
The EU members are not states – albeit the EU often use the term. We are sovereign nations.
As I said to Jess. Imagine a centralised government in Brazilia that Americans had to kowtow to and couldn’t be rid of.
The EU is in no way similar to the USA. To think it is merely underscores how little you know about it I’m afraid.
And that’s precisely what it is. It’s an organisation of member states, each self-governing and with there own individual cultures. Only reason Brits thought they wanted to leave was because of the nonsense Farage was spewing and his supporters, like Neil, were buying.
Junker clearly stated the ultimate goal of the EU is a completely united Europe under one government.
It isn’t my opinion mate. Junker admits it.
You want that great. Just stop pretending we’re all going to be sovereign and free.
We wouldn’t be. Junker knows it and so do you.
I’ll respect you being cool with it. It’s the denial of reality gets my goat.
Lima auto correct! Lima for fucks sake!! 😀
So do you think the EU will be okay with a do over? It seems to me, they have said ok we want this that and the other because you are the ones that wanted to break away and held your vote and now Britain wants to go back on that. Why should the EU say ok to this for just one country, the UK, when they have so many more they have to be thinking about. I admit to probably not knowing enough about this as someone that actually lives in Europe does but I have tried to follow it as best I can from here and to me it screams, ok we (UK) screwed up help us fix it and they are rightly being given all the nopes from the land of nope that can be given by the EU ruling people.
‘The EU ruling people’. Precisely.
Britain could refuse to pay the EU anything and just walk away…personally I think we should.
Those who want to leave want only a British government who they can remove if they so desire at election. We can’t remove the EU government hence we don’t want to be ‘ruled’ by them.
On top of that, the EU government can only pass laws approved by an unelected body…hardly democratic.
I suspect Americans, with respect, don’t really ‘get it’.
Nearest I can give you is all of North and South America unite. Your government becomes a state legislature and laws etc are devised and passed by a centralised government in, say, Buenos Airies or Loma or Brazilia.
You, Americans, could no longer rid yourselves of YOUR government.
You wouldn’t have one.
Wait though, don’t you also hold votes to sit people in the EU government halls? Why not vote in better reps for that, than say the Nigel Farages of the world who want it gone, he was a EU member voted in right?
Yes we do vote in representatives.
The problem is, with 27 member states, your representatives are powerless without gaining support of other countries representatives.
Basically, the people of member states who can vote out unpopular governments or, Presidents, in their own countries can’t vote out an unpopular EU government unless lots of other countries agree to do the same.
Imagine Trump as the unelected President, appointed by some centralised government and you can’t be rid of him. Ever.
That, in a nutshell, is the way the EU works.
Well dolt45 is an unelected, by way of the electoral college**, pResident we cannot seem to rid ourselves of and he is making life miserable for those in states that did not vote for him. One only need look at his tax scam to see that people in highest taxed states, ie blue ones, are the ones that will be hit hardest by it. He will be gone soon enough and if not, there is a remedy in place for the blue wave that will hit congress this year, dems will hold his feet to the fire, of that I am certain.
**They are supposed to be the last line of defense against people like dolt45 getting into the highest office in the land and they chose party over country.
Dammit I deleted a bit and hit post before I corrected some spelling mistakes, should be somewhere in this rant… then why not vote sensible people in that could work alongside the other member states to oust unpopular pols instead of sending idiots like Farage who only want the expense account and publicity that comes along with being a delegate to the EU? It’s like dolt45 putting people into places of power in departments that they wast to get rid of.
Simple. No matter who we elect, if the EU decide to do something bad for Britain, why would any other nation – and we’d need over half of them – support us if it didn’t bother them?
It matters not who we elect to the EU parliament, we lose sovereignty and our freedom to be whatever WE want to be as a nation for better or worse.
Whilst clearly not Communist, the EU is nearer the Soviet Union as a model.
And we all know how that ended…
Nobody believes you voted “remain” the first time and even fewer believe you’ll do it a second time. You should you know because this time it will be pitched then ditched. People learned after the first time leaving was a mistake.
I did actually vote ‘remain’. A combination of my daughter wanting to and radio station LBC (Leading Britain’s Conversation) announcing over 70% of young people wished to remain.
My conscience got the better of me for once.
It won’t happen again!….if there is an ‘again’ of course.
Er….leaving can’t be a mistake yet cause we haven’t left yet 😉
Sensible comments will be appreciated even if not expected 😜