Is the sexual orientation of a judge relevent?

pogs

Referendums can only ever be advisory in the U.K. It is because of the principle of Parliamentary Sovereignty.

To answer your question about Sturgeon -I have no idea, but my guess is because she knew she couldn't win a referendum, and won't challenge it until she think she can win.

however many obstacles, obfuscation, etc we may see might happen once the Brexit question goes to sovereign parliament, we must be content that democracy has won the day.

Very true

We will see if the political class listen at all to the 'plebs'.

It will certainly be interesting to see if voters stick to the rosette on a pig scenario any longer won't it if they feel their voice is worthless.

I genuinely think some will not bother voting at all as they will be so disillusioned with politicians.

I object to the term "political class". I think it is divisive and undermines the perception of democracy.
There has been a tendency, I agree, for those who rise to the top of their parties in recent years, to have been on a political career path since they graduated. I think this breeds leaders who do not have a good grip on what happens outside Westminster and have never grappled with the challenges of leading and/or managing within the public and private sectors.
However the mass of MPs do not fall into this group. They have usually had other careers and are chosen by their constituency party and then by voters to represent them.

If using the common terminology 'Political Class' is good enough for The Times and The Guardian it's good enough for little old me.

Sigh.

On the comparison with the Scottish referendum, had the vote been yes, negotiations on the detail would have had to follow, and legislation would have been needed to put the split into effect. But the vote was no, so no legislation or other parliamentry action is needed - things just stay as they are. But the EU vote was to leave. There was never any doubt that parliament would have to pass laws to put that into effect. All the judgement has done is say that parliament must also agree to trigger article 50. All that aside, some of the comments here are verging on the bizarre- nothing that has happened is even remotely close to anything like a fascist regime. I'm an avid remainer but the "advice" from the majority, albeit a small majority, was to leave. It's unlikely that the EU will give us all we want out of a soft brexit (in particular both free market access and immigration controls) so if parliament demands that, the govt. just won't be able to do what the voters asked for. Grist to the mill for the next UKIP election campaign, and goodness knows what else from the most recalcitrant leavers.

i1.wp.com/voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/161106-Enemies-of-the-People.jpg?w=530

From cartoonist Gary Barker.

If Daily Mail headlines led to fascist government, we would have had jackboots in the streets decades ago. What we need is a bit more calm reflection. The Government will follow the Supreme Court ruling, which will probably be the same as the High Court. The biggest danger is that Parliament will then tie the Governments hands in a way which makes Brexit impossible - that will truly polarise the country.

I take your point, but what you're implying is that the government will have to give in to hard Brexiters otherwise there will be a rebellion. That's the argument Zac Goldsmith is using. So the choice is between hard Brexit to appease UKIP & Co or hard Brexit because the government is bullied by a revolution. Hmm!

I'm sure I remember some of the Vote Leave bods saying not to worry about the single market, because they're sure to have us anyway, because they need us more than we need them. Hmm!

You're right that it's probably impossible to deliver what voters want, but it would be a good idea to find out what they really do want.

Daily Mail and calm reflection. Seems weird to have those two concepts in the same paragraph.

dj that is so scary. Mind you what was the DM doing in the thirties?

Actually the more you reflect on that headline the worse it gets.

Daphne, I can see your point, but in truth the choice is either to leave, in line with the majority decision and on the best terms we can get, albeit that they are likely to be pretty bad terms, or to remain despite the majority decision to leave. We can argue until the cows come home about what the majority really want, but we have really gone about as far as we can to find out what they want. I have no interest in appeasing UKIP - but I do respect the decision that went against the minority, of which I was one, and absolutely abhor the prospect of a process that could bring UKIP to the forefront of British politics.

I agree with you and think it's worrying. I, too, accept that we're leaving, but really the work has only just started. One of my many reasons for wishing to stay is that the EU offers UK citizens some protection against its own government, which is a pretty sad state of affairs. That's why I'm glad we have the likes of Clegg and Starmer keeping an eye on what's happening. I wonder how many people really understand the implications.

I also find the 'secret deal' with Nissan quite worrying. I'm glad for the people who will keep their jobs, but I also think cherry picking is the beginning of a slippery slope to nudge nudge wink wink backhanders.

One way or the other, I suspect we're heading for 'hard Brexit', which is almost certainly going to be a disaster for the country. The remaining EU countries really don't need the UK that much and the chance that they will allow us any special deals with the single market are almost nil. If it means that banks, other financial services, IT companies and pharmaceutical research move to other EU countries, the UK is stuffed. And then there are the Ireland and Gibraltar questions...

I don't even think it's possible for people who voted Brexit to get what they wanted (whatever it was).

Fortunately, UKIP is doing a pretty good job of destroying itself, but that won't destroy the motivation for voting for them. What's happening in parliament at the moment is as much about political parties in disarray as it is about steering a course which is good for the country.

Good summary, and from my standpoint a good place for me to leave this discussion, but just to say the country has been though much, much worse than Brexit, however hard, and managed, and eventually thrived. Keep your glass half full!

LOL just because WW2 killed lots of people, bombed the hearts out of many cities and left us in vast debt to the USA, and after a couple of decades we managed to rebuild, and quite a few more to pay back the States, then we are being miserable pessimists to worry about the effects of Brexit.

theconversation.com/so-parliament-gets-a-pre-brexit-vote-but-what-will-it-be-voting-on-68248

Case for a general election after the parliamentary vote.

I wouldn't look eagerly forward to a GE if I were you djen as you are sure not to like the results.
JessM I dont recall Fitzy ever mentioning World War 2 (Lol)

JessM I dont recall Fitzy ever mentioning World War 2

WW2 seems a reasonable conclusion to come to given what Fitzy said. I'm hard put to think of any other period in our recent past (say, 200 years) when Britain was in dire economic straits.

Or even so visibly divided...

Well, roses, Michael Sheen thinks that if there was a general election soon, at least Labour would find out whether Corbyn could lead it to victory, and then at least all those who do not support him would have to decide where they stand.
I agree. A general election now would clear the air, instead of having another few years of carping in the background.

An election always decides who can lead a party to victory. I have dreaded an early election because it will cost labour many seats, but it may be for the best, with luck Corbyn would stand down and what ever is left of the Labour Party can unite and choose a leader who will give live tv interviews, not run from the press squeaking - I am being harassed, give live interviews to 'Today' have the courage to face the hustings not depend on momentum arranged rallies .

On the other hand, he could win, in which case he wouldn't stand down.

Yes he could win but would need to come out of hiding to fight an election and convince middle England to vote red labour

I think you'll find him in parliament today. There's a debate on exiting the EU and workers' rights.

Yes he will be in the house , he is safe there , no questions to answer .