The Big (non) Issue

I find myself in a strange situation. A personal dichotomy. With the Brexit negotiations having reached a tipping point and the next week fundamentally the most important for this kingdom since before I was born, there is now almost a clamour for a second vote - a new referendum.

That bothers me. Don't get me wrong, I'd campaign for remain again and I'd be praying to a god I don't believe in that Remain wins by 70%+ and would allow whoever was in power to attempt to appease the 30% with truth and positivity. Except, you know, that isn't going to happen. If there was a vote next week, even after months of incompetence, even if Remain won, it would not be decisive. It would be even more divisive.

This kingdom is so badly split on ideological ways that blood means nothing and grudges have been established that run deeper than we can ever imagine. I have said this before, but it means more now than ever before. We need to follow the will of the people from 2016 and leave the EU. We need to allow the country to sink or swim, prosper or fail on its own two feet. The only way we can repair any damage is to suffer it, that way the country might begin to heal and the people might start forgiving each other. Alternatively, if the country prospers and we see massive regeneration, creation of jobs and wealth, then Remainers will be happy and hope that Leavers don't waste too much time rubbing our noses in it - most of us want what's best, y'ken?

The problem is the country is so divided and it will become even more and that would be bad for everybody. The best resolution would be a compromise Brexit that suits the balance of the vote. 48% of the people - a little under half - didn't want to leave, regardless of who won or who lost their fears need to be considered, even if they have to compromise on a little over half of what the Leavers want. That's democracy at its most basis; liberalism is the perfect democracy - do things by compromise for the benefit of the people; if it benefits some more than others, ensure that those scales are eventually balanced.

We were promised a prosperous, progressive and fantastic future; if that doesn't happen then we have to pay for it. If the people who promised us this can't deliver we should, at the very least, ensure they can't be involved in politics again. Whatever happens, we need to think about democracy - not scrapping it, but making it a compulsory subject and scrapping career politicians in favour of fixed term MPs - answerable to rules - and drawn from all walks of society to ensure all of society benefits and feels part of the process.

A second referendum that delivers anything but a more resounding Leave vote could tear Britain apart and leave a place that most people wouldn't want to remain in.