X : What do you think of brexit?
Me : I have a personal view on statecraft but setting that aside, this is the crunch part of any negotiation, squeaky bum time. It was always going to be tense.
X : EU won't renegotiate.
Me : Negotiations are never over until the paper is signed.
Me : I have a personal view on statecraft but setting that aside, this is the crunch part of any negotiation, squeaky bum time. It was always going to be tense.
X : EU won't renegotiate.
Me : Negotiations are never over until the paper is signed.
X : Do you think we should have a 2nd referendum?
Me : No. Parliament must decide. Any public view should be expressed through a general election. I was against the first referendum - - I am against a 2nd.
Me : No. Parliament must decide. Any public view should be expressed through a general election. I was against the first referendum - - I am against a 2nd.
X : But parliament can't decide.
Me : Well, unfortunately it must. Punting this over to the public again might be an "easy" option for some in the House of Commons but it is a dereliction of duty. Parliament has to be sovereign here. It must make the choice.
Me : Well, unfortunately it must. Punting this over to the public again might be an "easy" option for some in the House of Commons but it is a dereliction of duty. Parliament has to be sovereign here. It must make the choice.
... Parliament must face the consequences of its choice in a general election. But Government cannot be run on a basis that every "difficult" choice is punted to an electorate. If you want that path, you need a large house of representatives (not Lords) selected by sortition.
Only with a permanent house of representatives, a citizens assembly chosen by sortition could Parliament ask for guidance and the debate be held in the assembly. We don't have that and ducking difficult choices by referendum is not a substitute. Never was.
