The Brexit referendum thread: potential consequences for GB, EU and the Brits in CH

Well, after today and yesterday, I have a certain amount of respect for May. She held it together with good grace.

To think she managed it when Davis and Johnson bolted, a couple of back benchers walked out, Trump disrespected her and vocally supported Boris and not her Brexit etc. etc. and she hasn't downed tools, said sod it.. unlike Cameron who ran away at the first sign of trouble.

I think there are many politicians across the spectrum quietly praising her for holding her own.

[Chuff]

	Quote:	Swisstree
	Well, after today and yesterday, I have a certain amount of respect for May. She held it together with good grace. To think she managed it when Davis and Johnson bolted, a couple of back benchers walked out, Trump disrespected her and vocally supported Boris and not her Brexit etc. etc. and she hasn't downed tools, said sod it.. unlike Cameron who ran away at the first sign of trouble. I think there are many politicians across the spectrum quietly praising her for holding her own.

Agreed, she has poise and dignity in situations where many men would by now have have crumbled. She stepped up to lead the country through its most difficult time when there was no-one willing or qualified to do it, and for that she has my respect and also pity.

[Blueangel]

I'm almost relieved that Tom Newton Dunn has stuck up for himself and his interview...

	Quote:
	Tom Newton Dunn‏Verified account @tnewtondunn 3h3 hours ago Here you go ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩. See, we did report the nice things #PhewNotFakeNews

https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn

[TobiasM]

	Quote:	Chuff
	Agreed, she has poise and dignity in situations where many men would by now have have crumbled. She stepped up to lead the country through its most difficult time when there was no-one willing or qualified to do it, and for that she has my respect and also pity.

She’s the PM it would be rather embarrassing if she had a public meltdown, not just for herself but also for the country (which is embarrassed enough by the current debacle) it would also be a blow to female equality if she was perceived to be that weak as to have a public meltdown. I feel sorry for her, because she’s not allowed to show those weaknesses in public. But I am quite certain she is under huge pressure because of her position.

I am getting the feeling for all that its worth, that the untenable situation the government is finding itself in, will eventually force a second referendum.

[fatmanfilms]

	Quote:	TobiasM
	I am getting the feeling for all that its worth, that the untenable situation the government is finding itself in, will eventually force a second referendum.

It's wishful thinking & also believing the result would be any different. Remember pinion polls before the vote showed a landslide to remain. I suspect Trump will get a second term as the economy is booming yet nobody will tell you they voted for him.

	Quote:	Swisstree
	To think she managed it when Davis and Johnson bolted, a couple of back benchers walked out, Trump disrespected her and vocally supported Boris and not her Brexit etc. etc. and she hasn't downed tools, said sod it.. unlike Cameron who ran away at the first sign of trouble. I think there are many politicians across the spectrum quietly praising her for holding her own.

Her only weakness was not firing those 2 incompetent ministers, perhaps she asked them to resign for them to save face.

[MusicChick]

	Quote:	fatmanfilms
	It's wishful thinking & also believing the result would be any different. Remember pinion polls before the vote showed a landslide to remain. I suspect Trump will get a second term as the economy is booming yet nobody will tell you they voted for him.

This.

And - nobody likes to have political leaders who they have to feel sorry for. Not good for giving the economy some of the boost Trump's arrogance is feeding. May blew it. Not that she could do anything else, she got stuck in that mess alone. Trump could have been kinder, Melania could have worn less trashy outfit, but at the end they knew exactly what they were doing. Oops, he did it again..

[marton]

	Quote:	fatmanfilms
	It's wishful thinking & also believing the result would be any different. Remember pinion polls before the vote showed a landslide to remain. I suspect Trump will get a second term as the economy is booming yet nobody will tell you they voted for him. Her only weakness was not firing those 2 incompetent ministers, perhaps she asked them to resign for them to save face.

Trump second term? I am sure his base will vote for him.
Questions are
Can he swing enough Independent votes without the Russians helping?
Can the Dems build on the fact that Hillary won the popular vote by better targeting the Electoral College votes?
Who will be the Dem candidate?

Back to Brexit!
Hard to forecast how a second referendum would go.

The winning margin was small so anything could happen!
A number of arguments by both sides have been disproved.

Many people have been hit by inflation increases and falling currency, will they blame Brexit?

[bowlie]

	Quote:	marton
	? Back to Brexit! Hard to forecast how a second referendum would go. The winning margin was small so anything could happen! A number of arguments by both sides have been disproved. Many people have been hit by inflation increases and falling currency, will they blame Brexit?

I suspect the 34% abstention rate will be much lower. And perhaps Brits non-resident for more than 15 years would be allowed to vote too. (As promised by the Conservatives for decades).

[fatmanfilms]

	Quote:	bowlie
	I suspect the 34% abstention rate will be much lower. And perhaps Brits non-resident for more than 15 years would be allowed to vote too. (As promised by the Conservatives for decades).

I don't believe it's decades as 15 years is quiet recent thing. When I left in 1994 I was not able to vote as a non resident in any elections.

[pdofr]

	Quote:	fatmanfilms
	I don't believe it's decades as 15 years is quiet recent thing. When I left in 1994 I was not able to vote as a non resident in any elections.

I'm pretty sure it was 1985/6 that the UK enabled UK expats to register with their local embassies so that they could vote "back home".

Thatcher was still PM back then and the general feeling was that expats would vote Tory, hence the change of heart on the issue.

[Blueangel]

	Quote:	bowlie
	And perhaps Brits non-resident for more than 15 years would be allowed to vote too. (As promised by the Conservatives for decades).

27 Feb 2018

	Quote:
	Campaigners have welcomed plans to abolish the rule which bans UK voters overseas from voting in British general elections after they have been abroad for period of 15 years or more. They were commenting to news that the overseas electors bill had passed the second reading stage in the UK House of Commons

https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu...eral-elections

The removal of the 15 year rule was actually part of Cameron's election manifesto in 2015, but he never got around to implementing it. Just one major obstacle to regaining the vote now...freaking Labour!

	Quote:
	Labour 'betraying' British citizens abroad who cannot vote Refusal to back bill removing time limit on expats’ voting rights angers campaigners

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...ho-cannot-vote

[bowlie]

The period of time is actually irrelevant. All Brits should have a vote on such issues.

[fatmanfilms]

	Quote:	bowlie
	The period of time is actually irrelevant. All Brits should have a vote on such issues.

As they have an exposure to IHT I agree with you, taxation without representation.

[Urs Max]

	Quote:	fatmanfilms
	If the US economy continues to flourish, Donald will get a second term & none of the Americans in my FB feed will admit to have voted for him twice!

That looks increasingly likely indeed.

[k_and_e]

Trump has the best chance for a second term if the democrats manage to find a terrible candidate like Hillary again. There are not too many of such hated people though

[Jim2007]

	Quote:	bowlie
	The period of time is actually irrelevant. All Brits should have a vote on such issues.

Why should people who have not lived in the country for a long period be in a position to impose their will on the people who have to live there. Just because you might decide to back sometime in the future is not a good enough reason to make people live out your decision.

	Quote:	Jim2007
	Why should people who have not lived in the country for a long period be in a position to impose their will on the people who have to live there. Just because you might decide to back sometime in the future is not a good enough reason to make people live out your decision.

The alternative is disenfranchisement.

Not all of us collect passports like shoes, you know.

[Urs Max]

	Quote:	Jim2007
	Why should people who have not lived in the country for a long period be in a position to impose their will on the people who have to live there. Just because you might decide to back sometime in the future is not a good enough reason to make people live out your decision.

So UK-resident foreigners have the right to vote?

[pdofr]

	Quote:	Jim2007
	Why should people who have not lived in the country for a long period be in a position to impose their will on the people who have to live there. Just because you might decide to back sometime in the future is not a good enough reason to make people live out your decision.

Not even when where we are allowed to live is in the balance?

	Quote:	Urs Max
	So UK-resident foreigners have the right to vote?

Some do. Like everything in that cocked-up kingdom, it's complicated. Irish citizens can vote at all elections. EU citizens can vote at some elections. I think there might be special consideration for some Commonwealth citizens too, but I can't be bothered to look it up.

Take it away from the Swedes and Hungarians and give it to the Jamaicans and Pakistanis, that's what I say.