Is it possible to have a second referendum on Brexit?

Personally, I don't think it is. Much to the disappointment of Remainers, there has been little shift in public opinion over the last two years. An average of polls shows a very small percentage shift to remain but well within the margin of error and nothing like the decisive shift that would be needed to mandate a second referendum.

In addition, there has been a hardening of attitudes among leave voters, with a majority of them saying they want a hard Brexit or a no deal Brexit. A no deal would be a disaster for everyone but if 98% of climate scientists can't convince partisan opposition of facts they don't want to believe, then a consensus of economists will have no such luck here.

When remainers see an incompetent government in meltdown over a bad idea that was impossible to deliver, leavers see an incompetent government in meltdown because it has sold out on achievable promises. That Britain is a second tier world power in a weak negotiating position is not what people want to hear.

In addition, the 'People's Vote' campaign has failed to connect with anyone outside its metropolitan liberal base. Worse than this, it has divided its base by alienating Corbyn supporters like myself on the Labour left. So much time and energy has been spent on blaming Corbyn for Brexit and in plotting a new breakaway party that left remainers have suspicion of the PV campaigners which borders on hostility. The remain camp is divided along the lines of the Labour Party Civil war two years ago.

Most Labour voters backed remain, especially in the cities but in small regional towns the picture is mixed and most Labour MPs are actually against a people's vote. Corbyn is not prepared to fight for the Brexit issue because its not his top priority and also because its not a battle he can win.

There are no good or easy options in this complex and messy situation. I still think that some kind of compromise soft Brexit is the most likely outcome but that will please nobody. The shit show must go on.

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Platinum · M

What would it achieve ...if leave won again, we would be in exactly the same position with remainers still complaining and if remain won, there would be utter chaos , probably riots and we would have to go back to the greedy Europe who would treat us like second class citizens and make us suffer.....everyone went into the referendum knowing it was a once in a lifetime vote...

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Platinum I agree with you on that. It would need a huge shift in public opinion for a second ref to make sense.

Longleggedlady · 31-35, F

@Platinum that was always going to face legal challenges for the simple reason that the margin was too small and the divisions on how to achieve it even with on the leave section could be exploited to bring about the no win situation that is what has played out in Parliament. Regardless of what changes are achieved if they are not liked it will again face legal challenges right up and into the ECJ again and again the funds are there and waiting to do it

Platinum · M

we are dealing with a bunch of two faced liars who will always put themselves first, we will all get stitched up, being more in than out which will be a disaster for remain and leave....@Longleggedlady

Longleggedlady · 31-35, F

Come early to mid March Parliament might well be faced with the question do we do as the people voted for and go no deal with unknown consequences or do we pull the plug on Brexit and stick with what we have and know.
The task is to get the Parliament into that position, they have taken a tentative step on that direction. At the moment from the remain side it is not even about which political party you normally would favor it is about backing those that are onboard the cause so you can attack the process from as broader base as possible
The good point from remain side is it is starting from a nothing to lose stance and everything to gain whereas the leave side has everything to lose.
The fact that there ate so many divisions makes it difficult to actually achieve a result of getting a deal through and is to manipulate

Platinum · M

@Longleggedlady you were doing well until the last paragraph...we are as we stand today, all losers...they will have to delay art 50 or give us a no deal...

Longleggedlady · 31-35, F

I can see Norway model being tabled
The whole issue is that take a look at Parliament itself yell me who strikes you as a genuinely good leader

Platinum · M

JRM. Is the only one who speaks sense, I will never vote labour or Tory without Mogg as leader ever again...@Longleggedlady

Longleggedlady · 31-35, F

@Platinum taking personal viewpoint out of this it is a mess and one that is going to hurt those least able to afford it the most.
There is no clear plan either way for how we are going to do it that is truly effective and equally there is clearly no clear plan of what will be put in place in the event of no deal
You cannot just not have a plan when you are playing about with millions of peoples lives in all aspects from their jobs to them being able to even go and buy groceries.
I have a business partner and also friend he is a very rich Russian he actually told me about when the USSR ceased to be and started to become Russia again where their was virtually no food to buy because regardless of how much money you had it simply was not on the shops shelves because the the transition period was so badly done.
Do we go headlong into a situation where because of incompetence we are going to put the people in that position

Platinum · M

@Longleggedlady Russia never got a macdonalds until 40 after everyone else, they are so behind us, we will not be short of food we can buy from USA, India, Australia, and South America ....stop worrying...

Longleggedlady · 31-35, F

I wouldn't be prepared to accept food on my table from any of those sources about only thing passable from South America is a good quality Malbec, india spices are gpod besides which they are all long distance which adds to transportation costs and we know where that goes To

Platinum · M

They all export fruit and veg, but as we won't pay high tariffs it should be cheaper ..I like talking to you, you're sensible @Longleggedlady

Longleggedlady · 31-35, F

@Platinum thank you you are frightfully kind