“Rethinking The Referendum”
On Saturday, June 23, just two years to the day since the referendum in which Britain and Gibraltar (including Commonwealth citizens resident there) voted to leave the European Union (EU), over 100,000 people marchedthrough London to call for a second referendum on Britain’s decision to leave. Some waved EU flags, others had placards calling for a “People’s Choice, Proper Choice”, and others again wore t-shirts with the message “Rethink Brexit, Renew Britain”. The participants ranged in age and background, though there were many young people. One carried a sign, “I’m 16, Brexit Stole my Future.”
The promises made –
“A chaotic government trying to push us over the cliff edge,” Caroline Lucas, the co-leader of the Green Party, told those gathered there. She pointed to a range of promises made during the course of the referendum campaign by the Leave side that had been unfulfilled, such as £350 million a week extra for the National Health Service (NHS) as well as the difficulties related to Northern Ireland and other matters that voters had not been aware of at the time of the vote. “It is time for you to decide, for you to take back control,” said Gina Miller, the campaigner who had taken the government to the Supreme Court over parliamentary accountability for Brexit. Pointing to the House of Commons, where MPs last week had voted by a slim majority to pass the central plank of Brexit legislation, the EU Withdrawal Bill, she said it was “dishonest” for politicians to suggest that “they still believe the will of the people is still the same as two years ago.”
Two years on, as Britain remains as divided over the issue of leaving the EU, public debate has continued and gained ground on the virtues of a second referendum. Initially those concerned about the direction of Brexit policy had focussed, like Ms. Miller, on pushing for greater parliamentary accountability, but with both main political parties committed to respecting the “will of the people” and leaving the European single market (the Labour party is more committed to some form of custom union membership), opposition has turned elsewhere.
The arguments are far from straightforward. Though won by a slim majority of 51.9% to 48.1%, the referendum result followed a high turnout of 72.2% which was well above the figure for recent general elections (which has ranged between 61% and 69% in the past decade). Contrary to initial suggestions that young people had not participated, subsequent research by two LSE academics found that around 64% of 18 to 24 year olds took part in the referendum, which was almost identical to the turnout for 40 to 54 year olds (for those aged 65 and over the turnout hit 90%).
Nevertheless, arguments have focussed on the closeness of the margin, and what was voted on. Was a 50% threshold high enough, and was a mere 3-4% gap wide enough for such a fundamental and irreversible decision that was to determine the future of generations to come?
And what of the question put to people in the referendum itself: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?” What did leaving and Prime Minister Theresa May’s now notorious slogan “Brexit means Brexit” entail?
Did it necessarily involve leaving the single market (the elimination of tariffs, quotas, and the free movement of goods, services, capital and people)? Or the customs union (the clubbing together of countries to apply identical tariffs at the border)? Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are part of the single market but not the EU, while non-member Turkey is part of a customs union with the EU, while also not a member.
WORDS AND MEANINGS –
1) Referendum
Meaning: A general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision.
Example: “He called for a referendum on the death penalty”
Synonyms: Plebiscite, Popular
2) Marched
Meaning: Walk along public roads in an organized procession as a form of protest.
Example: “Unemployed workers marched from Jarrow to London”
3) Waved
Meaning: Convey (a greeting or other message) by waving one’s hand or something held in it.
Example: “We waved our farewells”
4) Placards
Meaning: Cover with notices.
Example: “They were placarding the town with posters”
5) Ranged
Meaning: To position people or things together, especially in rows.
Example: “The troops were ranged in front of the commanding officer”
6) Chaotic
Meaning: In a state of complete confusion and disorder.
Example: “The political situation was chaotic”
Synonyms: Disorderly, Confused
Antonyms: Orderly
7) Cliff
Meaning: A steep rock face, especially at the edge of the sea.
Example: “A coast path along the top of rugged cliffs”
Synonyms: Scar, Precipice
8) Campaign
Meaning: An organized course of action to achieve a goal.
Example: “An election campaign”
Synonyms: Crusade, Drive
9) Slim
Meaning: (Of something abstract, especially a chance or margin) very small.
Example: “There was just a slim chance of success”
Synonyms: Slight, Small
Antonyms: Good, Strong
10) Plank
Meaning: A fundamental point of a political or other programme.
Example: “The central plank of the bill is the curb on industrial polluters”
11) Contrary
Meaning: Perversely inclined to disagree or to do the opposite of what is expected or desired.
Example: “She is sulky and contrary where her work is concerned”
Synonyms: Perverse, Awkward
Antonyms: Accommodating, Obliging
12) Subsequent
Meaning: Coming after something in time; following.
Example: “The theory was developed subsequent to the earthquake of 1906”
Synonyms: Following, Upcoming
Antonyms: Previous, Prior
13) Turnout
Meaning: The number of people attending or taking part in an event, especially the number of people voting in an election.
Example: “We reckon that thirty-five per cent is a good turnout for local elections”
Synonyms: Attendance, Audience
14) Notorious
Meaning: Famous or well known, typically for some bad quality or deed.
Example: “Los Angeles is notorious for its smog”
Synonyms: Infamous, Scandalous
Antonyms: Unknown, Faceless
15) Entail
Meaning: Involve (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence.
Example: “A situation which entails considerable risks”
Synonyms: Necessitate, Require
16) Tariffs
Meaning: A tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports.
Example: “The reduction of trade barriers and import tariffs”
Synonyms: Tax, Duty
