Would Brexiteers boycott a second referendum?
Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage says he would abstain if option were Theresa May’s deal vs. Remain
Nigel Farage has said he would boycott a second Brexit referendum if the only option was between Remain and Theresa May’s compromise deal.
Campaigners for a ‘People’s Vote’ have been given a major boost after Labour announced it would support another public vote if the party’s preferred Brexit plan is defeated this week.
However, The Independent reports that “splits emerged within hours of his announcement,” after anonymous sources briefed that the shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry “misspoke” when she said the referendum was likely to be between the prime minister’s deal and staying in the EU - a claim she denied.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Farage told Sky News “it would be an outrage” if Remain were on the ballot, while fellow Brexiteer MEP Daniel Hannan said he would have “no option” but to boycott a second referendum if the choices were only Theresa May’s deal or staying in the EU.
“You told us last time that it was final and binding, we have voted, that was our view and we are not going to dignify this kind of farce with our participation,” he told the Daily Express.
However, Farage, who has repeatedly said Leave would win by a bigger margin than 2016 in the event of another vote, did leave the door open to campaigning in a second referendum if no deal was one option put to the people, adding “if we are forced into this, it would have to be Remain or a clean Leave.”
The big question for Leave supporters is what would happen if they did orchestrate a successful boycott.
Charles Moore in the Daily Telegraph says if the campaign managed to halve the referendum turnout to “well below 40% of the total eligible” then “Parliament could not pretend it had a mandate to act on the result. The 2016 result would stand.”
Others are less sure. Speaking to Daniel Hannan, talkRADIO host Julia Hartley-Brewer asked if there was “a deliberate attempt to organise a boycott” and the turnout dropped to 30 or 40% “that would send a different message but nevertheless still be legally binding, would it not?”
“The thing is, boycotting the second referendum would take a bad situation and make it even worse,” writes Graeme Shimmin on Quora.
“There would be no democratic resolution of the situation. The divisiveness would get even worse. It would be moving even further from rational debate and even further towards tribalism, hatred and anti-democratic methods like civil disobedience, ‘direct action’ and even rioting or terrorism,” he said.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Bird flu worries mount as virus found in milk, cows
Speed Read The FDA found traces of the virus in pasteurized grocery store milk
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Palazzo Durazzo Suites in Genoa: a palatial gem in northern Italy
The Week Recommends Live your Italian dream in this astonishing and recently restored palace in the heart of the city
By Nick Hendry Published
-
How will honeytrap scandal change Westminster?
Today's Big Question Security procedures laid bare by spear phishing attack as focus shifts to 'political insider' being responsible
By The Week UK Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Can Boris Johnson save Rishi Sunak?
Today's Big Question Former PM could 'make the difference' between losing the next election and annihilation
By The Week UK Published
-
Liz Truss and her bid to woo the American far-right
Why Everyone's Talking About Former PM pitching herself as 'bridge in transatlantic conservative movement'
By The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Stormont power-sharing in sight: 'good news' for Northern Ireland?
Talking Point Unionists vote to end two-year boycott after agreeing legislative package to address post-Brexit trading arrangements
By The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published