Second referendum or general election?

The 1975 referendum was a confirmation because we were already in the Common Market. It would have been foolish at any time to have change for change's sake, without considering whether the alternative was indeed better.

I second that, Nandalot.

The problem with a referendum is, what is the question going to be.
Will it be, In or out of EU or Deal or no deal

Out of EU may well win but No deal probably won’t.

A referendum is not on the agenda because Corbyn wants a GE on his own terms and it looks like he will get it, what the Brexit outcome will be very uncertain.

I accept your point, Davidhs and I admit I don't know the answer. I do think a GE would be a really bad idea for the reasons stated above.

Nevertheless, I can see that a new referendum wouldn't be entirely satisfactory. Perhaps it should be made perfectly clear that it would be advisory and, as I suggested above, in two (or more) stages. Maybe people should be asked if they still wanted to leave/remain. If the result is "leave" they should be asked whether they would be prepared to leave with no deal. They should then be asked what their priorities for a deal would be.

I know that sounds tedious, but if people really are serious about the future of their country, I think they should at least be prepared to spend some time making their views detailed and explicit.

Government by plebiscite may work for a small population but for a nation with an electorate in excess of 10 million let alone 40 or 50 million or more. In broad terms we should not be using referendums at all. However having got ourselves in this position by curtesy of Johnson, Groves and company I think that we need a referendum that has three questions that are leave with a deal, leave with no deal and remain. The voting should use a simple preference system, you vote 1 for your first preference 2 for your second preference and 3 for your least referred option. If on the first count there is a clear winner that is it, if not then the count continues until the 2 front runners are determined at that point a fresh referendum is run with the two front runners being the only questions asked.

*growstuff I do agree with your proposal, but of course people can't be asked whether they 'still' want to do anything, as a sizeable number of voters would not have been old enough to take part in the 2016 referendum.

Agree 100% with you Kitty.

I believe in remain and reform. Let's all take a much greater interest in the EU and it's workings. Have a Labour/LibDem/Green coalition that makes this country a better place to live in for most of it's citizens [except for the tax dodgers] and then if in 10 or so years time people think being in the EU isn't working for us have another referendum that, this time, is based on facts. As one of Steve's placards says 'Lead with Facts, not Leave with Lies.

Hoping that Macron does us all a favour and shouts ' NON'.
'We will not allow any further extensions' ?