The UK Referendum on Membership of the European Union

[Vassenor]

For people yabbering on about democracy, a referendum is undemocratic.

Perhaps you can explain to the class how giving the people a say in their future isn't democratic.

[Great Britain Out]

I'm Scottish and I want out. I voted for independence but the scenario you paint isn't a mandate for another referendum.

Perhaps you should talk to Ms Sturgeon and Mr Salmond about that; they don't seem to entirely agree.

What they want is the complete opposite of Independence. They just want to move power over Scotland away from Westminster to Brussells. That is not Independence and I hope Scots realise this before it's too late.

[Mordakia]

I'm Estonian and I was born in the UK, so the memory is a little fazy- but last time we was in a Union 100 million people died.

So, yeah I'm voting to leave.

When the issues run this deep into British and European Identities, can't you, at least, make an informed decision?
Try this

[Densaner]

I'm Scottish and I want out. I voted for independence but the scenario you paint isn't a mandate for another referendum.

Perhaps you should talk to Ms Sturgeon and Mr Salmond about that; they don't seem to entirely agree.

Well I would to hear the legal basis of their argument. The U.K. Is one whole electorate during a referendum. How this part or another part votes is neither here nor there.

[The Qeiiam Star Cluster]

Maybe we should have a referendum on whether the topic of the referendum should leave the megathread or remain in it.

That would suggest that this is a democracy, instead of an insidious social experiment under my Machiavellian control.

<strokes fluffy white cat>

<cackles maniacally>

I thought Max Barry was Il Principe?

[Narintia]

I'm Estonian and I was born in the UK, so the memory is a little fazy- but last time we was in a Union 100 million people died.

So, yeah I'm voting to leave.

We'll call it the Fourth Reich then. Problem solved!

Well, 14,000 got killed the last time we had a reich, so no to that.

And the last time we had a commonwealth, 75,000 people died.

And since this ''USE'' will be led by Germans...

yeah lel no

[The Archregimancy]

Aren't the Scottish more pro-EU than the English? Wonder what'll happen if the majority of Scotland votes to stay and the majority of England to leave.

yes

we will get very very annoyed and probably attempt a second referendum

I'm rather more interested in what happens in the hypothetical scenario where England narrowly votes to leave, but (assuming, for the sake of argument, a roughly 50/50 split in NI) the UK as a whole votes to stay on the back of strong Scottish and Welsh support for the EU.

Or perhaps London, Scotland, and Wales vote to stay, and thereby keep England in despite England outside of London voting to leave.

[Alyakia]

Perhaps you should talk to Ms Sturgeon and Mr Salmond about that; they don't seem to entirely agree.

Well I would to hear the legal basis of their argument. The U.K. Is one whole electorate during a referendum. How this part or another part votes is neither here nor there.

the basis is that maybe it would be better if the UK wasn't one whole electorate during a refendum

if the majority want a referendum then not giving one is just going to push people even further towards the idea of independence

[Chartist Socialist Republics]

Meh. I'm inclined to say that we stay in, primarily so I can enjoy the disappointment of the eurosceptic right.

[Alyakia]

yes

we will get very very annoyed and probably attempt a second referendum

I'm rather more interested in what happens in the hypothetical scenario where England narrowly votes to leave, but (assuming, for the sake of argument, a roughly 50/50 split in NI) the UK as a whole votes to stay on the back of strong Scottish and Welsh support for the EU.

Or perhaps London, Scotland, and Wales vote to stay, and thereby keep England in despite England outside of London voting to leave.

daily express literally explodes

[Densaner]

yes

we will get very very annoyed and probably attempt a second referendum

I'm rather more interested in what happens in the hypothetical scenario where England narrowly votes to leave, but (assuming, for the sake of argument, a roughly 50/50 split in NI) the UK as a whole votes to stay on the back of strong Scottish and Welsh support for the EU.

Or perhaps London, Scotland, and Wales vote to stay, and thereby keep England in despite England outside of London voting to leave.

Scotland - Stay

Wales - Stay

London - Stay

Most of England - Leave

NI - Leave

[Baltenstein]

Stay with us, Brits!

Europe can be quite the crazy place at times, but in the end, we´re all one big dysfunctional happy family.

Besides, it´s not like your former colonies are even remotely interested to having you back as their head honcho.

[Densaner]

Well I would to hear the legal basis of their argument. The U.K. Is one whole electorate during a referendum. How this part or another part votes is neither here nor there.

the basis is that maybe it would be better if the UK wasn't one whole electorate during a refendum

if the majority want a referendum then not giving one is just going to push people even further towards the idea of independence

The U.K. Remains a unitary state. It's the UK that's a member of the EU, not Scotland.

[The Twenty-first Reich]

For people yabbering on about democracy, a referendum is undemocratic.

Perhaps you can explain to the class how giving the people a say in their future isn't democratic.

People have elected QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES to represent them. That IS democracy.

To return the questions those representatives have been trained and elected to deal with BACK to the people is idiotic. The average Brit has proven absolutely incapable of making an informed or rational decision on this matter and all others in referendums.

It's undemocratic.

[Mordakia]

We'll call it the Fourth Reich then. Problem solved!

Well, 14,000 got killed the last time we had a reich, so no to that.

And the last time we had a commonwealth, 75,000 people died.

And since this ''USE'' will be led by Germans...

yeah lel no

I know Estonians have been through a lot and still emerged an awesome, tech-friendly and dynamic country. Please don't be scared just based on the name

[Alyakia]

We'll call it the Fourth Reich then. Problem solved!

Well, 14,000 got killed the last time we had a reich, so no to that.

And the last time we had a commonwealth, 75,000 people died.

And since this ''USE'' will be led by Germans...

yeah lel no

hmm if only we had another powerful country that could balance german influence

no seriously what do you see in your future as a small independent country right beside russia, that yes, used to part of the USSR. that just told the EU to fuck off? are you actually thinking this through?

[Great Britain Out]

yes

we will get very very annoyed and probably attempt a second referendum

I'm rather more interested in what happens in the hypothetical scenario where England narrowly votes to leave, but (assuming, for the sake of argument, a roughly 50/50 split in NI) the UK as a whole votes to stay on the back of strong Scottish and Welsh support for the EU.

Or perhaps London, Scotland, and Wales vote to stay, and thereby keep England in despite England outside of London voting to leave.

That's presuming that Scotland, Wales and London mostly vote to stay in. Welsh and Scottish and London voters are waking up to the fact that it is not good for them or the rest of the country to stay in the EU. I think we'll see a lot more Scottish and Welsh and London voters voting to leave than people think.

[Imperializt Russia]

Arch cleared a standalone thread as it's impacting more than just the UK.

Maybe we should have a referendum on whether the topic of the referendum should leave the megathread or remain in it.

I vote in favour of holding a referendum on whether to hold a referendum on where we discuss the UK holding a referendum.

[Alyakia]

the basis is that maybe it would be better if the UK wasn't one whole electorate during a refendum

if the majority want a referendum then not giving one is just going to push people even further towards the idea of independence

The U.K. Remains a unitary state. It's the UK that's a member of the EU, not Scotland.

perhaps, just perhaps, the UK and france are too over-centralized?

[Baltenstein]

Aren't the Scottish more pro-EU than the English? Wonder what'll happen if the majority of Scotland votes to stay and the majority of England to leave.

FRRRRRRREEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Alyakia]

Maybe we should have a referendum on whether the topic of the referendum should leave the megathread or remain in it.

I vote in favour of holding a referendum on whether to hold a referendum on where we discuss the UK holding a referendum.

um? what's your legal basis for this?

[Imperializt Russia]

I'm rather more interested in what happens in the hypothetical scenario where England narrowly votes to leave, but (assuming, for the sake of argument, a roughly 50/50 split in NI) the UK as a whole votes to stay on the back of strong Scottish and Welsh support for the EU.

Or perhaps London, Scotland, and Wales vote to stay, and thereby keep England in despite England outside of London voting to leave.

That's presuming that Scotland, Wales and London mostly vote to stay in. Welsh and Scottish and London voters are waking up to the fact that it is not good for them or the rest of the country to stay in the EU. I think we'll see a lot more Scottish and Welsh and London voters voting to leave than people think.

I think you know jack shit about what people in these countries think.

[Alyakia]

Aren't the Scottish more pro-EU than the English? Wonder what'll happen if the majority of Scotland votes to stay and the majority of England to leave.

FRRRRRRREEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gibson's law strikes again

[Densaner]

Perhaps you can explain to the class how giving the people a say in their future isn't democratic.

People have elected QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES to represent them. That IS democracy.

To return the questions those representatives have been trained and elected to deal with BACK to the people is idiotic. The average Brit has proven absolutely incapable of making an informed or rational decision on this matter and all others in referendums.

It's undemocratic.

Except in certain circumstances where a constitutional matter arises. This is one such circumstance. You have a narrow view of democracy if you think just crossing a box once every few years is the only way democracy works.

[Chartist Socialist Republics]

Perhaps you can explain to the class how giving the people a say in their future isn't democratic.

People have elected QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES to represent them. That IS democracy.

To return the questions those representatives have been trained and elected to deal with BACK to the people is idiotic. The average Brit has proven absolutely incapable of making an informed or rational decision on this matter and all others in referendums.

It's undemocratic.

Democracy is rule of the people no? Electing representatives who will rule the people once every few years from a severely limited choice is hardly democratic.