Last chance for second thoughts on Brexit

With the United Kingdom General Election now under way and described as “the most crucial in a 100 years” (we’ve heard that many time before but there is a ring of truth about it this time) former Foreign Secretary David Miliband says the long running debate over whether the country should leave the European Union is undermining  democracy.

Slamming the persistent Government rhetoric that the “will of the people” as expressed in the 2016 referendum to leave must be followed, Miliband (pictured) says that mandate is out of date, given all that has happened — and been revealed about the campaign itself — in the three years since.

In a recent visit to the UK from the United States where now serves as Chief Executive of the International Rescue Committee overseeing humanitarian aid and development programs in around 40 countries, Miliband decried the claim that leaving the EU must be implemented because to do otherwise would endanger democracy.

“It cannot be more democratic to plough on with a version of Brexit that was never presented to the public in 2016, than to consult on whether they want to go ahead with this plan,” he said.

It should be apparent to any reasonable person that what Miliband says is true. In 2016 there was little or no debate on the status of Northern Ireland and its land border with the Republic.

There was no serious discussion on the status of EU citizens in the UK, some of who had been living there for decades, or of what would happen to UK citizens who had made their homes in EU countries.

Concerns about the problems that might be faced by British companies that did much of their business with Europe, or who were reliant on EU exports, were dismissed with the fatuous slogan “Project Fear”.

In fact slogans were all that the supporters of Brexit really had. “We want our country back” was one that was heard over and over again — an Animal Farm-style drowning out of any chance of rational debate.

Worst of all were the deliberate lies: The hundreds of million pounds to be saved that currently went into the greedy coffers of Brussels; the lucrative trade deals with the rest of the world that would be lined up on the day after departure.

I have no doubt that among segments of the population there is a hatred of Europe that borders on fanaticism; a desire to leave whatever the price to be paid, whatever the hardships to be endured.

A recent poll among current supporters of Leave found that 75 per cent did not care if Remain-supporting Scotland became independent, and Remain-supporting Northern Ireland joined the Irish Republic, if that was the price to pay for an English Brexit.

These people are entitled to their opinions. However, they are opinions that should surely be tested in a new public vote, given the consequences that have been revealed.

Given also the frail 3.9 per cent margin in 2016 and what has happened since, it would be reckless irresponsibility to do anything else.

Miliband went further, saying a first-past-the-post referendum that split the country almost down the middle was an example of “an early 20^th century class-based structure struggling to cope with 21^st century demands.”

Calling for a “reboot of UK democracy” he said changes could include the adoption of citizens’ assemblies, electoral reform and a written constitution.

I would add compulsory voting, but these are matters for later.

For the moment, it can only be hoped that the outcome on 12 December will produce an opportunity for the British people to have second thoughts on whether they want to take the momentous step of cutting themselves off from their European partners.