Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr K
The UK won't be leaving the EU whatever the result of this referendum. We'll just get another amended deal and told to vote again. Too much at stake, not just the break up of the EU, but break up of the UK. This is what happened in Ireland and Greece, when the public foolishly voted to reject bailout deals; don't think so you plonkers - vote again !. If it's an answer the Govt. doesn't want it'll be rejected, and we'll be told to keep voting until we vote the right way. Democracy is just an illusion we like to have.
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The difference in those cases is that Ireland and Greece are both net financial beneficiaries of the European project, so the nature of the debate is not the same. Where you get a vote against an EU treaty, it is based on the perception that they're going to lose out. It is not based on a fundamental scepticism of the project. Overturning the referendum results required sufficient sleight of hand to persuade the voters they weren't actually being shafted after all (even though they were).
This referendum is wholly different. It is not a vote on a technical measure, it is an all-or-nothing, in or out decision, with a clear, legal pathway for the UK government to follow in the event of a vote to leave.