Thread by @tony_nog

1) Megathread - Yes, the #Brexit vote is illegitimate, and it's not elitist to say so

Simply put, a vote that is based on misconceptions and illusions but which *cannot* be reversed is an affront to democracy therefore the very concept of the referendum is illegitimate

2) So why was the #Brexit vote illegitimate? Well, broadly speaking:
1) The Brexit we "voted for" ends FoM, the ECJ & payments to EU
2) This will be severely damaging to the economy & jobs
3) If the public was asked today the same question but were told the above,Remain would win

3) Leave simply would not win if the costs of the #Brexit they promised were revealed honestly in a second referendum. The only way they could win is if these costs were obscured again

buzzfeed.com/albertonardell…

4) Of course many will say "elitist remoaner - you're missing the point, it's not all about money" - and you'd be right, #Brexit is not all about money, right up until the point that money becomes a significant factor - then suddenly it is all about money
nation.cymru/2017/brexit-wa…

5) It's easy to say "we voted for sovereignty and against immigration" when you actually, deep down, believe #Brexit is free. But are you really telling me car workers in the North East would happily vote to risk their jobs?
euractiv.com/section/uk-eur…

6) The fact is poll after poll shows the public are not prepared to pay for #Brexit and nor, to be honest, does the entire public understand the consequences of Brexit (most *MPs* don't understand the consequences for that matter)

7) Elitist? No, just honest. The blue passport debacle proves this. We voted for free trade therefore every leave voter should be in favor of the French getting the contract.That's the nature of free trade. Best value, low prices, tariff free and all that
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5…

8) But we didn't vote for free trade, only for an fantasy "buy British" nationalistic "free trade". Just as we voted for a "they need us more than we need them" #Brexit. Brexit should be dying

9) #Brexit is so utterly futile & ludicrous it should be finished. The reason it's not dead yet is because both major parties are focused on themselves more than the public interest. Other than the zealots like Rees-Mogg & Corbyn, you can see it in every political interview.

10) Whoever it is, on either side, you can see politicians squirming "yes, #Brexit is a nightmare, but what can we do?". They cannot be honest because that would hit their party, which is the priority for most of them.
Party before country - on both sides

11) However, #Brexit is clearly illegitimate. It was based on false promises, what was voted for cannot be delivered. To make that vote *binding & irreversible* because of a transient "will of the people" is undemocratic and cowardly

12) If the full costs of #Brexit were discussed and debated openly, with no spin, it would not and could not win any second referendum. Unfortunately Labour & Cons are so corrupted and venal they cannot fight against it, they don't have the backbone or, worse, inclination

13) it is unbelievable (and frankly repugnant) that activists, commentators and MPs in Labour & Cons, who presumably joined politics to do some good, now wring their hands on #Brexit and bleat "but what can we do?" whilst cynically waiting to pick over the carcass aferwards
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