Would you feel betrayed by a second EU referendum?

The turnout was higher than the recent GEs actually. Even for the youth voters.

I have no wish to lock antlers but to claim 60% in favour of a second referendum so... the result should stand. Which aspect of reality do you ignore?

uh, what? TSR isn't the total electorate... And how many members on TSR have "abstained" from this poll?

That was the problem... the total electorate did not participate. Some were on the fence, some were slapped down by Boris charisma and some just considered it a forgone conclusion that we would remain. You fear the silent voice arising in the event of a second vote and by God... we will!

I'll say again, more people participated in the Referendum than in recent General Elections. You can't expect a 100% turnout...............

And I'll say again... 60% in favour of a rerun now more of us are paying attention.

All this TSR poll indicates is that fewer of the youth voters are in favour of a rerun than originally voted Remain. You can't extrapolate a few hundred TSRians to say the entire electorate wants a rerun ..

That was the problem... the total electorate did not participate. Some were on the fence, some were slapped down by Boris charisma and some just considered it a forgone conclusion that we would remain. You fear the silent voice arising in the event of a second vote and by God... we will!

Referendums became more and more popular as seen under Blair. And there was a referendum on the EEC in 1975, but i don't see there having been a mass movement for a second referendum?

People still don't know what remaining or leaving would mean, partially due to the bias narrative most major new sources have got behind - caring little for a balanced argument, including, worryingly, the BBC.

Unless the referendum is based on the terms, and not Britain looking to stay in. But the same argument can be applied, people will never really understand what they're voting for (though this would be swept under the carpet if the Remoaners got their way of course)

On one website.....

The referendum was nationwide. Turnout was the highest it has been for years for any vote. Most of those who voted did so to leave. In a national vote, only those who vote are counted.

And those who wish to vote now? Maybe once we elect a govt it should stand forever?

No.

I feel delivering a Brexit no one wanted, by preventing us from entering into trade deals for several years post-Brexit, is pointless. No Brexit over nominal Brexit.

The only thing we can do is to ask the people want they actually meant by Brexit; see if the Chequers plan is anywhere near it. If it isn't, why are we bothering with the whole thing?

Would a second referendum be a gross betrayal of peoples’ trust in UK democracy as stated by the Prime Minister?

On one hand, violations of promises by people or governments are a violation of trust.

On the other hand, referendums are not a normal part of the democratic process in the UK and therefore it seems unlikely that such a violation would substantially undermine our trust in our democratic form of government. This conclusion is furthered by the fact that:

(a) there have been questions about the honesty of the information presented by both sides of the Brexit debate

(b) both sides have received fines for breaching electoral campaign funding law.

Finally, government and politicians could deal with this potential violation of trust by accounts, explanations, and, apologies, as well as by wording any second referendum in a way that respects the diversity of opinion in the UK about Brexit.


What do you think? Post your thoughts here.
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Ken J. Rotenberg is a Professor in the School of Psychology at Keele University. The primary focus of his research is on interpersonal trust. He has some 40 publications and 3 books on the topic including The Psychology of Trust published by Routledge Press. He has written on the topic for Psychology Today and The Conversation.

He is on TSR to get involved in this debate.

And I'll say again... 60% in favour of a rerun now more of us are paying attention.

The turnout was higher than the recent GEs actually. Even for the youth voters.

Arguably the biggest problem with the first referendum is that 'leave' wasn't a well defined option, but could be interpreted freely. If we had a second referendum, what would 'remain' mean? Would the EU let us continue under the same terms we were on before? If not, what then? Even if they would, should we ignore the problems that being a member of the EU brings and led to the vote in the first place?