Brexit watch

The referendum undermined democracy.

A referendum only works as an instrument of decision making, especially in such an important issue, if people are fully informed and use their heads.

Where exactly are we supposed to be moving on to?

I have heard a lot of people on here saying that they have spoken to people who now wish they hadn't voted to leave. I might be in some sort of bubble, but I haven't experienced this at all and I live in an area that voted to stay. As to where you move on to, that is up to you, but I can't help feeling that constantly decrying the result and dwelling on any negative comments by political or economic pundits isn't going to do you much good in the long term. What's done is done!

And now I must get on with my life

The future is what is important and I want to know where Leavers think we're heading. They must have SOME idea. Nobody is silly enough to vote for the unknown (I hope).

But many people,whichever way they voted, will have their life affected by the result - are you suggesting that they just get on with having a much more difficult life and say nothing? Many of them will be people who voted to leave after believing what they were told and now they are powerless to do anything about it. Many will blame the Govt, and although they will not be entirely free of blame, it will be those who have retreated into the woodwork who will bear the main blame for the state many will find themselves in.

The victory was democratic but why it is claimed as being 'for democracy' is weird. The EU is not a dictatorship. It is run on 'democratic' principles very similar to our own Parliamentary democracy. If people can't be bothered to take an interest or exercise their right to a 'voice' through their MEP it is not a failing in EU democracy, it's a failing in themselves.

It's an interesting thought that, given that at least half the people who don't normally vote must have voted 'for democracy' (i.e Leave), an awful lot of these apparently staunch defenders of British democracy don't actually bother much about it at election times.

A friend of mine who voted leave has a house in France and his partner lives there permanently (he stays in England). When I asked him why he was voting he said he'd never voted in his life and thought he'd give it a go. Didn't seem to know any of the implications.

@ durhamjen ? COP OUT ?
I am not actually privileged to be able to make that decision ! Perhaps you are just being awkward.
I am known to be an exceptionally fair person and expect things to be done legally,especially in a democracy.
Please do not respond with the leave campaign tactics,I have posted my annoyance with it several times already.

I believe you will find that there is actually criteria in place to deal with the decision to leave the EU.
Law firm Mishcon de Reya are threatening to sue the government if they do not adhere to our constitutional requirements,which are a full debate and vote in parliament on our terms for leaving.

Should we exit under the correct procedure,I shall be cock-a-hoop.

MaisieD.
Re those who don,t usually bother to vote.
We have no idea how many voted leave,or how many voted remain.

@Granny

I just looked at the Ashcroft poll, which was an exit poll on the day. Obviously, there's a margin of error because it couldn't ask postal voters.
lordashcroftpolls.com/2016/06/how-the-united-kingdom-voted-and-why/

The poll asked the question 'Did you vote in the general election?' It looks as though there wasn't much difference between Leavers and Remainers, although when asked whether they usually took notice of politice, slightly more people said they voted for Leave.

If many of you have watched the coverage aired on t.v from the EU Parliament you will be hearing diverse voices and the predominant point that comes over time and time again is 'The UK leaving is a wake up call for the rest of us, we have not been listening to our people'

I hope the voices of reason and level headed MEP's who want to remain allies and trade with the UK are heard the loudest.

Welshwife. But you do have to get on with it dont you?
Though actually you live in France, so still in the EU.

The powerless feeling is why some voted for Leave. At least they now have some hope.

Hope for what? Price rises, recession, higher unemployment, political chaos? Although I'm sure some people did vote leave as a two fingers up to the ruling politicians and are enjoying the chaos.

Hope that their wages and living wont get undercut.
Hope that their children will get school places that they want, hope that the queues wont be so long at the doctor, hope that the NHS will have an appointment sooner rather than later.
Everyone knows what the hopes are. They dont need endless repeating.

Sorry, that came out a bit rude. But I do think that everyone knows most things really, as it has all been said for months.

But that's not going to happen!!

Not only that, but many of the places which voted Leave hardly have any immigrants.

The lack of school places is due to government policies of not allowing local authorities to build schools and GP shortages are due to disgruntled doctors and pay cuts caused by government changes. EU immigrants make less use of the NHS than average, because they tend to be younger and fitter, although they pay tax and NI.

You still think that it's worth paying a financial price for that hope. Well, I don't. I don't even pay tax, because my income is below the threshold and money is very tight. I really resent having to pay higher prices for fuel and food just to give somebody else an illusion of hope and no plan.

dd, I didnt know you could see the future.

The rest of the post has been discussed before.

Those of us that are on miniscule pensions do need to see into the future. It's called 'forward planning'. I'm pleased for people that aren't worried sick about their financial future but, alas I'm not amongst that group.

But dd predicted it! Well, actually told us what it is going to be!

daphnedill you cannot possibly know what is going to happen, and you can complain all you like about the "undemocratic" result, but it is what it is - the choice of the majority of those who bothered to vote. I'm concerned that all this pent up anger and stress will result in you starting an ulcer - please do try and relax a little about it. And that is not meant to be sarcastic by the way.

Impossible to relax if you are worried sick. Several people on here have said how worried they are and have little choice as they have a low income - it is no good telling them it is what the majority want just get on with it. I hope that it will turn out to be not quite as bad as we fear for the sake of all those people who cannot be anything else but worried sick. ( I have a bit less sympathy for those who voted to leave and are now worried sick!)

Can I ask a question? Is there anyone who voted leave that had a specific reason for doing so with regards their job, pension etc? It's just that some people seem to be now having financial problems post brexit and there doesn't seem to be much sympathy for them. I find that really sad.

Tegan, in my case, it is quite likely that a Brexit result could be very bad financially. But no way did that put me off.

As regards the rest of your post, and Welshwife's I realised a long time ago that 1/2 of what a person worries ,ight happen, doesnt happen.

Amd the other 1/2, worrying about it made things in my life worse not better, so again, best not to.

Be grateful about the present is what is needed.

I guess yous've all seen this letter to all MPs from the philosopher, A C Grayling urging them not to support a motion to trigger Article 50.