Live data from Hacker News

UK parliament to get binding vote on final Brexit deal

bbc.co.uk

51–60 of 109 posts

Re: UK parliament to get binding vote on final Brexit deal

#51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Bone-headed move by its people By a minority I'd like to clarify. 51.8% voted for it, of a 72% turnout, of an electorate that is only around 69% of the population. That works out at around 25% of the population voting for it.

> That works out at around 25% of the population voting for it. Correct, newborn babies were denied a vote. What percentage of the British population voted to Remain in the EU, out of curiosity?

And those who will _on average_ die before we leave, voted overwhelmingly in favour of leaving, tipping the balance.

Re: UK parliament to get binding vote on final Brexit deal

#52
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Bone-headed move by its people By a minority I'd like to clarify. 51.8% voted for it, of a 72% turnout, of an electorate that is only around 69% of the population. That works out at around 25% of the population voting for it.

I dislike this argument. By that line of reasoning, every government we've had in my lifetime has been illegitimate, elected only by a tiny minority of the population.

I'm not saying it wasn't legitimate or legal, just that _most_ of us did not vote for it, which is why I felt "bone headed people" was too much of a generalisation.

Re: UK parliament to get binding vote on final Brexit deal

#53
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Bone-headed move by its people By a minority I'd like to clarify. 51.8% voted for it, of a 72% turnout, of an electorate that is only around 69% of the population. That works out at around 25% of the population voting for it.

This type of turnout is not uncommon in democratic states with voter turnout in the UK in particular hovering around that figure[0] since 1945. Yet they still decide laws, amend constitutions, control their military and command a domestic monopoly on sanctioned violence. By the laws and constitution[1] of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the people voted for Brexit. [0] http://www.ukpolitical…

I mean sure, but I'd personally assume people who didn't vote are happy with the status quo. Huge constitutional changes should be difficult.

Re: UK parliament to get binding vote on final Brexit deal

#54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That works out at around 25% of the population voting for it. Correct, newborn babies were denied a vote. What percentage of the British population voted to Remain in the EU, out of curiosity?

And those who will _on average_ die before we leave, voted overwhelmingly in favour of leaving, tipping the balance.

What point or argument are you making here? Old and terminally ill people shouldn't have a vote?

Re: UK parliament to get binding vote on final Brexit deal

#55
post #42

It saddens me to no extent witnessing a formerly great country falling deep in the abyss of irrelevance, propelled and fueled by a remarkable societal and intellectual isolationism improper in this time and age. Not to mention the implicit bigotry, racism and xenophobia of the whole Brexit deal. Interesting times indeed. In a sense, social media et al. are fulfilling the place that widespread newspapers first, and la…

>Not to mention the implicit bigotry, racism and xenophobia of the whole Brexit deal explain?

I am an EU citizen living in the UK for 11 years (my whole adult life) so this is from my perspective. The campaign and reasons given for leaving were extremely xenophobic. There was a lot of talk of EU citizens "clogging up" the healthcare system and emigrating to the UK to claim benefits instead of working. Almost none of this was based on fact but it almost certainly swung the vote.

Other reasons such as sovereignty were also given but most polls indicate that unhappiness with immigration was the main reason people voted to leave the EU. This in itself isn't necessarily xenophobic, but given the enormous economic benefits of immigration into the UK it's difficult to conclude otherwise.

Re: UK parliament to get binding vote on final Brexit deal

#56
post #18

The OP is a bit misleading. At the New Statesman George Eaton is reporting that the vote will be "take or leave it". Important. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2017/11/david-davis...

Not just that, but Davis confirmed no deal == no vote. Indeed, it's difficult to see how they could have a sensible vote in the absence of a deal to vote on, but since this is the most likely outcome as we stand (the UK Govt have no solution to the Irish border issue, and there's a substantial rebellion in the Tory party against paying the EU any money) then the most likely outcome is still no vote :(

Actually, the UK government has a very good solution to the Irish border issue, which the Irish are in favour of. It is the EU that will not allow it.

Re: UK parliament to get binding vote on final Brexit deal

#57
post #28
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's interesting because it will allow debate, something that has been in very short supply during this whole process. The British people deserve to know what is going to happen to them in 2019, even if it's irreversible. The current government has made it quite clear they don't agree with that, so they'll have to be forced into it.

> It's interesting because it will allow debate, something that has been in very short supply during this whole process. Are you referring to Parliamentary debate about whether some deal can be cut with the EU? I recall a lot of public debate before the vote itself, and a lot since, if that's what you're referring to.

The debates before the referendum were imprecise and overloaded (politically) with other items (i.e. whether David Cameron can convince the people and lead the party) a debate on a Brexit law is on a precise working law.

Re: UK parliament to get binding vote on final Brexit deal

#58
post #2

So basically they can choose the colour of the glitter on the turd we're going to have to eat?

They already voted on the fact that they want to leave (via referendum and votes in both Chambers and by royal approval)

They could have voted on a more precise direction beforehand, but no "Brexit means Brexit" was the most precise they were willing to support ...

Re: UK parliament to get binding vote on final Brexit deal

#59
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not just that, but Davis confirmed no deal == no vote. Indeed, it's difficult to see how they could have a sensible vote in the absence of a deal to vote on, but since this is the most likely outcome as we stand (the UK Govt have no solution to the Irish border issue, and there's a substantial rebellion in the Tory party against paying the EU any money) then the most likely outcome is still no vote :(

Actually, the UK government has a very good solution to the Irish border issue, which the Irish are in favour of. It is the EU that will not allow it.

I looked this up: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-41183041

Re: UK parliament to get binding vote on final Brexit deal

#60

It saddens me to no extent witnessing a formerly great country falling deep in the abyss of irrelevance, propelled and fueled by a remarkable societal and intellectual isolationism improper in this time and age. Not to mention the implicit bigotry, racism and xenophobia of the whole Brexit deal. Interesting times indeed. In a sense, social media et al. are fulfilling the place that widespread newspapers first, and la…

Time to read up on some British History. The last time this happened was during the reign of George II when the UK rejected Europe and Hanover and turned its eyes to the world. The tune "Rule Britannia" was the marching song for the 'patriots' who pushed for an independent UK based policy. The result was the industrial revolution and the UK becoming the pre-eminent power on Earth. So we've sort of done this before.

>Time to read up on some British History. The last time this happened

No it wasn't. This has never happened.

It's really hard to conclude that anything so tangentially related and which happened such a long time ago could possibly be relevant.

Post reply on HN