I have recently started a monthly column with the Peeblesshire News called View from Stooriefit Mountain. This column will be published monthly on every 3rd Friday of the month.
Brexit means Brexit! What does this catchphrase really mean? The problem is there is no one answer and it all depends on your economic situation, which part of the United Kingdom you live in, class, which newspapers you read, television and social media!
We are literally heading towards the cliff at breath-taking speed and all that our elected government can do is press the accelerator even harder in order to avoid a ‘People’s Vote’. It goes without saying I voted to remain. My reasoning was simple: the European Union experiment has been a success, albeit with problems and issues along the way and the foundation of this was to bring all the European nations together after WWII.
It has worked so far and will continue to work so long as each nation, big or small is taken care of and they can all share prosperity and health in a borderless world where people, goods and services can move seamlessly without hinderance from one nation to another.
So, let’s examine the truths behind the referendum called by former PM David Cameron.
In January 2013 he announced that, if the Conservatives were re-elected to power in the 2015 elections, he would hold a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU by a simple in or out question on the ballot paper. He also did this to satisfy Tory back-benchers and UKIP.
The European Union Referendum Bill 2015-2016 was passed in parliament and at close inspection was very poorly written and never stated what the outcome of the vote would be, whichever way it went! Anyone wishing to read what our elected representatives have passed should download a copy of this legislation. Many MPs may not have actually read this document in its entirety.
In Clause 5 – Types of Referendum – the following paragraphs say it all from a legal standpoint:
“It does not contain any requirement for the UK Government to implement the results of the referendum, nor set a time limit by which a vote to leave the EU should be implemented. Instead, this is a type of referendum known as pre-legislative or consultative, which enables the electorate to voice an opinion which then influences the Government in its policy decisions.” And: “The UK does not have constitutional provisions which would require the results of a referendum to be implemented, unlike, for example, the Republic of Ireland, where the circumstances in which a binding referendum should be held are set out in its constitution”.
My question to all political parties is why are we still going ahead? The lies have been exposed, European nationals and British citizens living in Europe were not given the vote, along with a host of other lies, exposing our Great Britain Colonial Empire attitudes to foreigners! Many wanted to bring back to good old days! No idea what this means to be honest, is it bring back racism, slavery, colonial rule, etc?
Can our local elected representatives answer this question, please?
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