Can anybody explain Brexit please?

Well said crystal.

To all those who just want to 'get on with it' and don't care how it goes, if you have grandchildren think of them. Just give it some thought, don't leave it to others. People fought for the right to vote, you have a responsibility to take a view on the most important issue in our time in this country.

Good to see the 'Brexit' debate is still alive and well.

Is it time to rename it though? After all, it was only England & Wales that voted to leave.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland they voted by a significant margin to remain in the EU.

Is the democratic votes Scotland and NI to be ignored? On what grounds?

I don't think anyone expected this shambles. We seem to have been vary poorly served by almost everypolitician. And political parties in oppopsition do not seem to have offered us any anterlative to the government mess.

from time to time I look on

www.gov.uk/prepare-eu-exit

I also put in a folder links to article which explain it all. However I have failed to grasp a clear model ion my head of all the different european bodies, how they interact and where the idea came from that we wanted to be a federated states of Europe rather than a free trade group.

Seems everyone who voted lead has a range of different perspectives, with some very tenuous 'why I voted leave' views.

One that is perhaps amusing is the "German financial domination".

I wonder if the extreme Brexiteers will still buy BMWs, Audis and VWs after we have left - obviously those dreaded euro plates will be taken off, and replaced with a cross of St George, or maybe a union flag (unless Scotland leaves the union). That'll show 'em.

But clearly those pesky unelected bureaucrats in Brussels are to blame - we want to be ruled by our own unelected bureaucrats like Theresa May, and her selected civil servants.

And yet, we voted for MEPs, we also voted for our own governments, who voted for the EU commissioners, etc.

But then, that's not the sort of democracy that's popular in Britain - we sadly appear to prefer the black and white approach - you're either for us or against us.

The whole sorry mess is sad, whichever way you look at it, and my grandchildren will not have the same opportunities in this divided nation.

EmilyHarburn Liked that link and followed it up, but I noticed when you drill down into the details, it almost always says stuff like ... "we will be seeking", or something equally vague.

The "federated states" idea has no basis in fact. There is plenty of political opinion, and reactionary commentary, but no evidence.

Brilliant post MaizieD - sums it up very well.

Remember the BBCs "vox pops" about 'straight bananas', and directives on abolishing imperial measures!

If we manage to confuse the metric system, with political and economic issues - it was almost a certainty that no one had sufficient information to make an informed choice.

I'm sure everyone now knows how to complete and issue customs declaration forms for importing and exporting products. (Good job that wasn't on the ballot paper!)

Today, the UK Government website still has this page about it - dated 2014 !!

www.gov.uk/government/collections/customs-handling-of-import-and-export-freight-chief-replacement-programme

Whether a Yes or a No I still can't believe or understand why there are no financial checks on all the money gathered by Brussels. Can anyone tell me why this is allowed. I know MEPs do not pay any tax, again Why?

The EU is legally obliged to allow and assist any of the EU member countries to leave the Union. Think the EUs understanding of "assist" only goes as far as "on our terms only".

The problem is - everyone has their own biased opinion on it - and it is difficult to trust any site to be impartial. All Remainers are snowflakes, all Brexiters are Gammon. There is no end to the hostility, and to my mind there are even more important things effecting this country that are being ignored. We need a shake up, we need a GE, and we need fresh eyes to sort the whole sorry mess.

The Brexit shambles is not easy to understand as it seems to have deviated from what people thought they were voting for.Who knows where this is heading.

Exactly Nanny41.

I am a brexiteer.
I am being perfectly honest when I say that in the main I think I voted with my heart rather than my head.
I ,like most people did not know enough about it.
I don't think that we should have been given the vote in the first place and no way should we be given another..
I blame David Cameron.
We vote for our MPs .
They should have made the decision in the first place.

Railman All the countries in the UK voted in one referendum as the UK is currently the member state, the individual countries are not. Scotland did have their own independence referendum 2014 when the issue of EU membership arose highlighting that independence from the UK would mean no EU membership. Scotland therefore whilst returning a vote not in favour of leaving the EU in the UK referendum will be in the same position had the independence referendum vote been Yes. No complaints there then!

4allweknow why would the EU do it any other way? If you were on a committee of 28 people and 1 wanted to leave would you go out of your way to stop them? Would you tell them they could have their cake and eat it?

But the main reason why Scotland didn't vote for independence was because they didn't want to leave the EU and, I think, were reassured on that point by the government.

We were not given all the relevant information at the time of the referendum, mainly due to the fact that people were not expected to vote to leave
However we were never asked in the first place if we wanted to be part of the European union, only the common market

Lanclass, I admire your honesty. Sadly lacking elsewhere.

Can I ask you what you hoped to gain from the vote please?

So Theresa May has basically voted to change her own agreement which has taken 2 years to formulate. Calling it a “ triumph” which the right wing press has done, is laughable. Now expecting the EU to change its own red lines because we won’t change ours makes us look so arrogant. The DUP tail is wagging the English dog.

Lancslass1, ^I voted with my heart rather than my head.
I ,like most people did not know enough about it^.

How refreshing to hear somebody actually admitting they did not understand the complex issues involved. I take my hat off to you. I believe there were many people who thought that leaving the EU really would be a piece of cake; a simple good-bye with no consequences.

Good post Nonnie and Crystaltips. I just can't believe that we have such a load of idiots and all sides leading the country. I just can't understand going back and trying renegotiate, we are just going to end up crashing out with all the chaos. Ireland will end up with a hard border an time will be spent in Parliament still trying fro sort out the mess instead of getting on with the problems at home, homelessness, need for food banks, the NHS etc. The rich will get richer and the poor poorer. I pity our GC.

To reason without data is dilusion.

Look wider and see how the bigger picture is changing. Europe is committing suicide. If you wonder how this is happening watch Douglas Murray YOUTUBE video. It will give you an insight into the two major causes of Europe's impending downfall. With respect, take time to read and look deeper into factual material.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=stR5nWkq3LU&t=3s

I applaud you Lily65 for being so honest and stating how you feel. Too much speculation and fear mongering!

There is so much bad stuff going on in the world and we need to take 'our blinkers' off.

It is good to debate but also to respect people's views, whether you agree or disagree.

It is embarrassing seeing TM back and forth and all the maneuvering going on.

Perhaps if the public had been privy to information in an accessible form, things would have been different.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8FwRxW5-RU

Greta I agree with your post and would add that some thought they could have that 'piece of cake' and eat it.

I assume, NannyC2 that you do know that Douglas Murray is a rabid right-wing extreme brexiter? Try looking at other opinions and even facts.

The process is fairly simple: the government would have to send its notification to the European Council in writing – in much the same way as it started the process. The court says this notification must follow “a democratic process in accordance with national constitutional requirements” – more on that later. The UK would then stay in the EU and there would be no change to its current relationship.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-cancel-stop-revoke-article-50-explained-remain-stay-eu-latest-parliament-theresa-may-a8690886.html

That is what the majority of UK citizens actually want.