How long should a referendum be binding for?

Referendums are not binding on Parliament which is sovereign. They are advisory. Cameron foolishly said the Tory government would abide by the Brexit result.

Or they could just say “sod it - Brexit is rubbish, it isn’t working, let’s try closer working and see if our economy benefits”

M0nica

I agree with those who say referenda are not binding, so I will put the question another way.

For how long should any government feel bound to respect the wishes of the electorate as revealed in a referendum. When should they be free to make decisions about the governance of this country, including international treaties, without regard to a past referendum results?

I think that manifestos are the instruments by which future policies are indicated and on which we vote.

So if a political party says in its manifesto that the referendum is now redundant and we should seek closer union with the EU, people can vote for or against that as they wish.

I would say Referendums last as long as someone as self-serving, mendacious and duplicitous as Keir Starmer gains power.

Oh that could be misread. I was hasty.

It was in answer to your second question “When should they be free to make decisions about governance…….

Always I would say.

I don’t think referendums should be held to decide action, only to assess public opinion as a factor in reaching a decision.

I agree with those who say referenda are not binding, so I will put the question another way.

For how long should any government feel bound to respect the wishes of the electorate as revealed in a referendum. When should they be free to make decisions about the governance of this country, including international treaties, without regard to a past referendum results?

Not quite sure what you mean?

Areas of the U.K. were/are not doing well because of our eu membership.

Areas are not doing well because of the structure of our society snd economy.

David Cameron spoke of a once in a generation opportunity to hold a referendum so is the question how many years make a generation? Ten ?

I think they could achieve something.

You probably won’t agree with me but I think a cool analytical look at the distribution of votes re Brexit could have told a sensible Parliament that there were areas of the country who were not doing well in the EU, we’re deeply unhappy and that they needed to be given extra support.

I also think they could be the voice of ordinary people when politicians appear to be captured by a vociferous minority and are making extreme decisions that affect everyone just to please a few.

A litmus paper perhaps? But not binding. I don’t think they should be.

My answer to your question would be 'I don't know', MOnica.

I think if you were going to have a referendum on something as radical as leaving the EU, or changing our system of voting, then it would seem wrong for the decision to be revisited in a relatively short time. All the upheaval that would be caused by a changed decision would be damaging to the economy, to our standing internationally and to our unity as a nation.

While this might look like an argument for persisting with Brexit, I would qualify it by saying that any future referendum should be properly run. The EU referendum was incredibly shoddily carried out; there are many lessons in 'how not to run a referendum' that could be learned from it.

I was only pointing out that,by the reasoning of the poster I was responding to, the 1975 referendum result should still stand. I wasn't seriously suggesting that it should, just trying to show the absurdity of the 'inviolable referendum result' argument.

Lathyrus3

I don’t think referendums are binding?

No they aren’t. But for some weird reason the U.K. treated the Brexit vote as such.

Frankly all they achieve is division.

I don’t think referendums are binding?

I think it’s perfectly acceptable to have referendums every 10 years, they are not legally binding and this could and should be made clear to the “voting” public.

However, what the result re the EE we will never get reasonable terms and we simply cannot afford it, despite not saving any ££££ by leaving!

keepingquiet

Referenda should be banned from now on. We are a representative democracy and we get to fire or hire every few years if we don't think the decisions made in your name.

Cameron only agreed to the 2016 referendum because he wasn't to stop the leakage to UKIP. What a plonker- see how that worked out.

Personally I would now vote for anyone who says they will pass a law banning referenda unless the rules of voting proportion are laid down.

Yes

Referenda should be banned from now on. We are a representative democracy and we get to fire or hire every few years if we don't think the decisions made in your name.

Cameron only agreed to the 2016 referendum because he wasn't to stop the leakage to UKIP. What a plonker- see how that worked out.

Personally I would now vote for anyone who says they will pass a law banning referenda unless the rules of voting proportion are laid down.