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I supported a Peoples Vote from July 2016 until a few weeks ago. But then I started thinking seriously about how bitterly contentious the Leave option and voting system in a referendum would be. And the more I thought the less I could see a PV healing divisions.
#RevokeA50
#RevokeA50
For example, if May's WA is chosen as the Leave option the Brexit press and politicians will scream foul, and if Remain wins the subsequent referendum they will shriek that the vote was a charade and millions of Leavers will believe them.
If Labour agrees a deal that inflicts low economic hardship by keeping us close to the EU, the Brexiters will scream "Vassal state", "Surrender" and "Betrayal" and will reject the legitimacy of any Remain victory against such a deal.
The Brexiters would demand that a no-deal should be a referendum option, but Parliament would almost certainly reject that. And again the Brexiters would shriek that the political elite was cheating the people and would deny the legitimacy of a Remain referendum victory.
It is very hard to imagine a Leave option in a People's Vote which would not lead to a Remain victory being denounced as fraudulent by the Brexit right. So a PV would have little advantage over revoking in terms of healing divisions.
