Voters need to know: how final is the EU referendum?

Blackleaf

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Oct 9, 2004
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The Remain camp's smugness over the fact they believe they're going to win this referendum - although, despite what the polls say, the Remainers could wake up to a nasty surprise on the morning of 24th June to find out that, thanks to a much higher turnout from Leave supporters than Remain supporters, the Leave side have won - is now starting to turn into barely disguised worry and nervousness over the fact that the Leave campaign have already started talking about a SECOND EU in/out referendum should Remain win this referendum only narrowly.

David Cameron may be tempted to take a Remain victory, however slight, as approval of his EU renegotiation and a sign he can get on with the rest of his Government agenda. But Brussels will continue to try Britain's patience over the coming years, and ensure Britons are not entirely relaxed about remaining in the political bloc....

Voters need to know: how final is the EU referendum?




Asa Bennett
17 May 2016
The Telegraph


Nigel Farage in his element Credit: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP


Politicians are starting to discuss what happens after the EU referendum vote. Remain's comfortably lead in the polls has prompted Nigel Farage to warn that a narrow win would see pressure build for a second ballot.

The Ukip leader told the Mirror this morning: “In a 52-48 referendum this would be unfinished business by a long way. If the Remain campaign win two-thirds to one-third, that ends it.” Europhiles have got very wound up about this, with Tim Farron hitting out at the idea of "Neverendum". "This issue is too important to give people like Nigel Farage as many goes as they want until they get the result they want," the Liberal Democrat leader added.

James McGrory
‎@JamesMcGrory

Leave campaigners already laying the ground for defeat - Farage already whinging about a second referendum:http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nigel-farage-wants-second-referendum-7985017 …

8:02 AM - 17 May 2016




Nigel Farage wants second referendum if Remain campaign scrapes narrow win

The Ukip leader speaks to the Mirror’s Associate Editor Kevin Maguire and warns that a '52-48 result would be unfinished business'


mirror.co.uk

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Dan Hodges ✔ ‎
@DPJHodges

It's clear even the Out camp don't think they're going to win now. All about re-interpreting the defeat.

11:02 PM - 16 May 2016

27 35


Is Mr Farage tacitly conceding defeat ? Perhaps so, as a side confident of winning would not start setting out the terms for a re-run of the ballot weeks before voters go to the polls.

The bar he has set for Remainers opens up further questions about how Brexiteers will react to a potential defeat. Mr Farage suggests that they must win 66 per cent of the popular vote in order to silence any calls for another vote, while a narrow margin of just a few points would be challenged.

Does this mean a Remain victory of between 53 to 65 per cent will pass unimpeded? The fallout seen in Scotland after the 2014 independence referendum would suggest not, given the rise of the "We are the 45 per cent" movement agitating for a second vote and Nicola Sturgeon's unfettered talk of a second vote. The complaints from Brexiteers about how "fair" this fight has been against "Project Fear" (itself a term harking back to Scotland's independence referendum) are a sign they are not preparing to abandon the fight after June 23.

The Europhile camp cannot expect to coast to victory in any case given the risk of substandard turnout by pro-EU voters still means the referendum will be a closer-run contest. Mr Farage has been mocked for suggesting Outers would lose, but he touches on something few have properly considered: how definitive is this vote?

Remainers are not rushing to define its terms, with a campaign spokesman telling me it was "not a matter for us, but for the politicians" to decide. No-one on the pro-EU side has yet to bill the EU referendum – as Alex Salmond did for Scotland's independence ballot – as a "once-in-a-generation" vote on the nation's future. But it has been 41 years since the nation last voted on its future in Europe, so will the earliest chance Britons get to vote on the issue be in 2057? A lot can happen in that time – whether it be Eurozone contagion sparked by Greece crashing out of the Euro, or the migrant crisis deteriorating even further - and Britain would be locked in throughout.

Europhile ministers would point to the Government's existing "referendum lock" as a check against EU encroachment, as it means means any "transfer of competence or power" from the UK requires approval from parliament and the British people in a referendum. But the EU doesn't need more powers from Britain in order to present a danger, as shown by the European Commission admitting its deal to give Turkish citizens visa-free travel across the continent will increase the likelihood of terrorist attack.

David Cameron may be tempted to take a Remain victory, however slight, as approval of his EU renegotiation and a sign he can get on with the rest of his Government agenda. But Brussels will continue to try Britain's patience over the coming years, and ensure Britons are not entirely relaxed about remaining in the political bloc.

As Britons prepare to vote on Britain's European Union membership, they deserve to know how soon they could have a say again on their country's future.

Voters need to know: how final is the EU referendum?
 
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