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Can a referendum be valid if won on lies?

(243 Posts)
whitewave Sat 25-Jun-16 15:13:39

Apparently there are lawyers looking into this

Jalima Sat 02-Jul-16 21:24:40

I only have the evidence of what people have written. I have read baloney posts about sovereignty and taking back control. The truth is it came doen to immigration and xenophopia

Actually, I posted on another thread the reasons given to me by a group of women I met who voted Brexit, and none cited the reasons quoted above.
But the posts I received in response put me off posting any more.

granjura Sat 02-Jul-16 21:24:44

Exceellent news- DH watching tennis than football- so will see on 10 (11 for me) o-clock news on the Beeb.

Jalima Sat 02-Jul-16 21:28:19

It was on after the tennis, a bit after 6pm

Probably there is more on News 24

merlotgran Sat 02-Jul-16 21:29:27

With so much sport on telly we catch the News wherever it pops up. Schedules are all over the place at the moment.

grannyactivist Sat 02-Jul-16 21:33:20

In spite of a few sweary placards there was actually a very lovely atmosphere on the March and in addition to the big name speakers who took to the stage there was an 85 year old great grandmother and a couple of youngsters who looked to be about 13 or so.

I spoke to a French woman; she told me she's married to a Brit and their son is 12 - they're considering moving to France because their dual-nationality son is feeling the pressure of being European in a country that he believes doesn't want him here. sad

thatbags Sat 02-Jul-16 22:03:13

I always said it was about democracy for me. It's okay if people want to call that baloney; it just means they don't understand. Just like I don't understand all the emotional hooha from Remainers because all that stuff they feel about being European and being part of Europe I feel too and I don't think not being in the EU makes any difference to that. The EU is a trading bloc that's trying to make itself more than that. I'd rather it didn't.

There are and have been all along some very acute minds arguing for Brexit. There's no denying that. They could all be wrong, but then so could the acute minds arguing for Remain, so dismissing arguments and reasons for choosing this side or that is silly and pointless.

How about some tolerance, folks? And some acceptance of a majority vote?

granjura Sat 02-Jul-16 22:12:46

Thatbags- the answer to your last comment is very much the title of this thread- seemed clear to me from the start. The very point.

MaizieD Sat 02-Jul-16 22:14:02

Sorry, thatbags but this sort of thing makes me feel a bit cross:

Professor Michael Dougan assesses UK’s position following vote to leave the EU

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dosmKwrAbI

I haven't got as far as acceptance yet.

thatbags Sat 02-Jul-16 22:16:16

I'm afraid I don't understand your last post, gj.

thatbags Sat 02-Jul-16 22:17:50

You can feel cross and still accept, maizied. You either believe in a democratic vote or you don't. Both sides made exaggerated claims.

thatbags Sat 02-Jul-16 22:18:20

I've felt cross quite often after elections. I still accepted the results.

granjura Sat 02-Jul-16 22:19:05

Can a referendum be valid if won on lies =

a majority vote can't be accepted- not easily at least.

granjura Sat 02-Jul-16 22:20:25

I wonder how many of those who go on about Sovereingty and Democracy bothered to vote in the European elections and elect their MEP?

thatbags Sat 02-Jul-16 22:21:13

I think a lot of people had nade up their minds which way they'd vote long before any on the so-called lies were told.

thatbags Sat 02-Jul-16 22:22:17

Wonder away, gj. Fat lot of good it'll do you. And you'll probably make mistaken presumptions anyway.

MaizieD Sat 02-Jul-16 22:31:56

Have you watched the video, thatbags?

General Election lies I'm used to, having probably seen as many as you have. But the lies on the Remain side were just the normal porkies, not the industrial scale ones perpetrated on the Leave side.

You can feel cross and still accept, maizied

That's for me to decide, not you.

NfkDumpling Sat 02-Jul-16 22:34:18

The Remains claimed there would be war if we left. Is that a normal porky?

MaizieD Sat 02-Jul-16 22:36:57

I wonder how many of those who go on about Sovereingty and Democracy bothered to vote in the European elections and elect their MEP?

A considerable number of them don't even bother to vote in our own General Elections; even fewer bother in Local elections.

merlotgran Sat 02-Jul-16 22:40:26

I'm blowed if I'm going to have Michael Dougan rammed down my throat again. How many threads has he popped up on, pre and post referendum?

Somebody take him off to Soop's Kitchen for a cup of tea and a flapjack.......Please?

granjura Sat 02-Jul-16 22:45:36

Maizie- blooming cheek indeed. From FB the 48% group:

This keeps playing on my mind: how is it undemocratic to ignore the results of the flawed referendum, yet democratic to knowingly lie on an industrial scale to the same electorate? What does this teach our children? Am I the only one grappling with this logic?

Nobody is ramming anything or anyone down your throat ThatB- but he explains THE FACTS in a very calm and matter of fact way- from his decades of experience studying EU Law- so why not listen to his explanations. What can you lose by listening? Apart from factual knowledge? Facts are never dangerous- they don't bite. And even facts can be ignored or refuted- if you choose.

MaizieD Sat 02-Jul-16 22:48:26

I think that extreme Nationalism, such as we are seeing, even if only in a small way so far, has very often been the catalyst for war. Just because we've had peace in Europe for 70 years it doesn't follow that we'll always have peace. Leaving the EU shortens the odds.

Can you point me to a reputable Remain statement that categorically states that there will be war in Europe? I'll happily accept that as an industrial scale lie, but not a statement that speaks only of increasing the probability.

suzied Sat 02-Jul-16 22:55:11

Anyway, do 2 wrongs make a right?
I was on the march too btw. Very peaceful and some good speeches.

MaizieD Sat 02-Jul-16 22:59:51

Ahem, gj; I think it was merlotgran who objected to having Prof. Dougan rammed down her throat.wink

I'm not ramming anything, just making information available if people care to look at it.

I think that people are forgetting that as well as 'democracy' the 'rule of law' is fundamental to our constitution.Indeed, it is, I believe, held to be fundemantal to what we know as 'civilisation'. I'm quite happy to think that a lawyer who has spent his career studying his subject, and EU law in particular, is worth taking notice of.

I think that Prof. Dougan is pointing out that the two principles are not quite in accord in this situation.

granjura Sat 02-Jul-16 23:02:39

Agreed Maisie - the blooming cheek was about Merlot's comment, and repeating her earlier words ;)

durhamjen Sun 03-Jul-16 00:35:09

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/02/ebbw-vale-eu-vote-leave

All based on lies.