MEPs vote on Brexit extension appeal

Urmstongran why haven't you read mu post? I cited the official number eligible to vote.

my, not 'mu'

Isn't it a maxim in the law that silence gives consent? Presumably the missing voters were perfectly happy with the status quo.

Incidentally, Ug, varian's figure of 50 million doesn't include a great proportion of them (that) were/are under 18y

Try looking up the current population of the UK. At the moment you are just displaying a sad degree of ignorance...

MaizieD, that was the point in my post, the assumption that absent voters were happy with the status quo. Is it really a maxim in law?

I remembered it from years ago. Just looked it up; it's questionable in some cases but generally applies, I think.

But I did say 'Isn't it...', rather than 'It is..'

Ah well, in my ‘sad degree of ignorance’ I’m just happy that I’m one on the side of Brexit - which is, at the end of the day, what all these threads are about.

It’s coming.

Oh, I know, Ug. Ignorance is bliss, isn't it?

What's coming exactly, Urm? Can you share the details with us, or does your blissful ignorance only extend so far?

Haven't you seen those adverts, SirChenjin? "Prepare to leave the EU on 31st October"

I'm sure I read a Sci-Fi story once which started up with a series of inexplicable adverts being posted all over the place. It probably ended badly...

The usual rude replies by the usual suspects I see.

At least Urmstongran is unfailingly polite in her posts.

When exactly are posters going to stop with the ‘voters who couldn't be bothered to vote would have voted remain’ stuff?
After Brexit, next year, never?

Actually lemongrove, from Urmstongran's earlier post:

"what hyperbolic rot"

so not unfalingly polite?

It’s not personal though.....and there lies the difference.

Thank you lemongrove for illustrating the distinction.
Much appreciated!
?
I do always try to be polite and play the ball, not the man.

In a democracy one vote is equal to any another vote. A lack of a vote (not bothering to vote even though you could) counts as nothing. It could mean anything in the range from silence as consent to the status quo to silence being utterly pissed off by the status quo, but in the end that doesn't matter because not voting is opting out and the silence means what you think, so far as the vote goes, counts for nothing, absolutely nothing.

Which is as it should be.

All this ridiculous twisting of the result! Would you remainers have hibeen so happy to call foul had the result been the other way round?!! No, I thought not!!

'have been'

Would the Leavers be so happy to accept the result if 52% had voted to Remain and then subsequent opinion polls had showed that the majority wanted to Leave?

No, I thought not!

Nice attempt at deflection there Urm and lemon - I suppose it's easier than answering the 'what's coming, exactly' question with anything other than <vague wave of hand> Brexit

It’s just that it’s getting near now. Understandably some people are anxious. Worried even. Others are pragmatic ‘que sera’. Some are happy.

This day was always coming - after A50 got triggered by Parliament.

It (whatever it is) wasn't always coming - if you remember, it was an advisory vote.

Now that it's becoming clearer that 'it' is a disaster in the making it's really time to take a step back and leave the posturing and politics to one side.

I suspect that the only thing that will be coming on 31st October will be an extension... then a general election. That'll be fun...

Advisory - yes

Did the public know that when we voted (well apart from GN’s on the ball) - no

Did MP’s (knowing, presumably that it was advisory) press the ‘pause’ button for further discussion on the shock result - no

Is it our fault - no

My ballot paper just said stay/leave!

It didn’t mention how/when.

Exactly - which is why we should have another vote now that we do know (which is kind of what 'advisory' means). Unfortunately we now have the lunatics running the asylum, so that (sensible) approach isn't likely to be taken unless it can be forced through is some other way.

The EU are well aware of the political turmoil in the UK and it is in their interest to give an extension but I have to say I’m a little surprised but relieved they seem to have made that decision.

It seems to me that MPs are being kept out of parliament to prevent a no confidence vote. Personally I would like a government of national unity to ensure either a deal or remain. I’ve reached a point where either of these would be preferable to crashing out!

We are a global laughing stock and need to get our act together.

I voted remain and that will always be my preference but the time has come to agree on something. It’s now no longer a question of who is right but more about getting this country out of the mess that’s been created by the whole referendum debacle

Any kind of brexit will entail the country getting into a much worse mess. The only way to avoid that is to stop brexit.

Perhaps a government of national unity could achieve that, but if it doesn't happen, and we are faced with a GE before it is resolved, the best way to get the country out of this mess is to vote Liberal Democrat.

First I am a little surprised that the extension they are going to give us is only 3 months, thought they might go for a year so we can sort ourselves out.

Urm, I would just like to know how YOUR life will change by us leaving the EU that make you want it so badly.