I am equivocal about a second referendum on brexit. But if we reach a situation where there is no deal acceptable to Parliament and we face a cliff edge then I see no better option. (If there is an agreed deal then the referendum process would get too complicated).1/
If the issue is stay in EU or crash out the easy reassurances of 2016 from leavers would be unlikely to work this time. But if country still voted to leave knowing what was round the corner then the move would have a double legitimacy and the remainers would have to shut up. 2/
If we voted to stay after all I suspect the EU27 would generally be relieved (for budgetary reasons and concern about wider economic disruption). Countries changing their mind through referendums is hardly novel in the EU. 3/
UK influence would be diminished for some time and it will never be part of the core European project. However the new security environment, with the US drifting away from Europe, does give UK one important role. 4/
Otherwise with the UK inside on the margins the EU could concentrate on the many big problems it still needs to address. End.
