People Should Be Able to Think Again
by Martin Deighton
Mr T Carter of Bury St Edmunds insists that we must accept the result of the referendum and the people of the UK should not be allowed to think again. He also proposes that the Irish Republic should have a referendum and leave the EU. Mr Carter, you may not be aware that the Irish did have a referendum in 2008 and the people rejected ‘The Treaty of Lisbon’ which meant leaving the EU. The vote was 53.4% to 46.6% with the turnout of 53%. In 2009 when the implications and consequences of the referendum became clearly apparent, the people of Ireland were allowed to think again. In this second referendum, the result was reversed, 67.1% voted to accept the ‘Treaty of Lisbon’ and remain in the EU, 32.9% voted to reject and leave. The turnout was 59%.
Like the Irish, in our first referendum, we had little idea what we were voting for and what the consequences might be. As the implications and consequences of Brexit become apparent, the people of the UK should, like our neighbours in Ireland, be allowed to think again.