37 Comments

1. 

   @LordInquisitor701

   December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

   I don’t see the point in having a referendum then I am against the idea of a full-blown democracy I support the abolishment of the 17 amendment just because its the will of the people doesn’t make it a good thing stuff like that is how dictators get into power In the first place but referendum in my opinion should be always considered binding and should be followed and to not do so is just plain arrogance If it’s not a good idea then it should not be considered in referendum

   Log in to Reply
2. 

   @user-hp5fz3qs1u

   December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

   Simple. The EU

   Log in to Reply
3. 

   @ruthbashford3176

   December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

   A daft question that just shows you are a remainer. Of course the government should respect the will of the people and take Britain out of the EU.

   Log in to Reply
4. 

   @camwyn256

   December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

   It was a rediculously close vote to leave. I really think that should be taken into consideration and now that people have more information about what it actually means, another vote by the people really ought to have been done by now.
   Then again, I really don't understand why Britain decided to invoke Article 50 prior to having a deal worked out. Article 50 is supposed to be invoked after a deal is already met so the initial time frame laid out can be used to adjust to the agreed upon deal.

   Log in to Reply
5. 

   @mushrifsaidin

   December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

   What I learn from this: The people of UK are uninformed idiots who voted on something that they don't fully understand and now kind of regretting their decision lmaoooo

   Log in to Reply
6. 

   @titusmicah7407

   December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

   The thing about people is, to put it frankly, half of them are morons and the other half misinformed with certain exceptions

   Log in to Reply
7. 

   @robertanorris6116

   December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

   It wasn't a large majority to leave. Half the votes were to remain.

   Log in to Reply
8. 

   @starlyt8066

   December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

   Cambridge Analytica look what they did

   Log in to Reply
9. 

   @Tomartyr

   December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

   We're in the mess because, surprisingly, the EU doesn't let you enjoy the benefits of being a member unless you're a member.
   The EU will never agree to 'alternative arrangements' to succeed the backstop, if they are ever found.
   Why would anyone be a member if they could have completely smooth trade with the EU, while trading outside the EU, and not having to be a member?
   Even admitting it's possible creates an existential crisis for the EU.

   Log in to Reply
10. 

    @CyberSammael

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    When I have a problem with my car, I pay a mechanic who has more knowledge about its workings than I do to make decisions for me, inform me of what he has done and I trust him to make it safe. If I have a problem with my water system I call a plumber and if its electricity I call an electrician. We routinely pay and employ people with expertise and knowledge to complete tasks so that we don't need to know every detail about everything in our world, and the same is true for politics. Most people, myself included, do not fully understand the complexities of the EU and the impact and requirements of it, so we employ politicians to know this stuff for us. If I am going into surgery then I don't want my surgeon to ask the general population how to complete my operation, I want him to understand the situation and – at most – present me with choices which are well informed and rational. If ANY other profession was handled in the way politicians sometimes behave, they would be fired outright.

    Log in to Reply
11. 

    @Vachicorne

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    I think the issue isn't really between direct democracy or parlementary democracy.

    As British people see now, the question is way more subtle than being "in" or "out". Examples such as Switzerland or Norway show it, there are countries that are "part in" "part out" of the EU.

    However, the referendum answered to a simple question: "we want to be out", but, it did not answer "how" the people want to be out of the EU.

    It is also a good showcase of what "the tyranny of the majority" is, when a 52% majority decides for the 100%.

    Also, within the 52%, we don't really know how those people want to be "out" of the EU.
    If a few percent of those want to be out of the EU like the Swiss and Norwegian are, it could be a possible new majority since the 48% who voted to remain would be more inclined to accept that than a "hard Brexit".

    For me, a referendum with only 2 possibilities wasn't a good way to proceed. It was the best way to divide the country and pit the leavers against the remainers.

    The referendum should have proposed more possibilities, between the remain, and the hard brexit, including other possibilities such as what the countries inside the EEA are having, and use it as a map to really show what the people want.

    Log in to Reply
12. 

    @BGgungame

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    I think referendums are fundamentally a bad idea as it force a choice on the populace who are likely not informed enough to cast an adequate vote. That’s why we elect MPs, to know and decide for us.

    I’m Bulgarian and a few years ago there were talks of a referendum on if we should build a second nuclear power plant. Obviously asking the people such a complicated question is pure idiocy. And thank goodness they didn’t ask us.

    Log in to Reply
13. 

    @ZT-ne9ef

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    Being French, I think direct democracy should always overrule Parliamentary democracy. The MPs get their power from the people's vote in the first place. Any people's vote on a specific matter is like an exception in their power "you can do whatever except what we tell you to do directly". That being said, even if what you say in the video is true, the main problem of Brexit is that the question was poorly asked. People never got to vote for a Brexit project but for an idea. Brexit was never clearly defined from the beginning, there are a 1000 ways to leave the EU as you described well in your previous videos. It's like asking people "do you want to make the country rich?" or "do you want to be happy?", people voting YES and then dividing strongly about the ways to reach it.

    In that case direct democracy and people's vote can't be blamed as it's the responsibility of the leadership and David Cameron to have asked a question so poorly formulated. I think Hard Brexiteers are ready to sacrifice UK's short term interests for a more independant future (sovereignity and political power first) when Remainers don't want to take huge risks for the UK that could durably compromise their future (economy first). Both POV are understandable because they are actually not fighting on the same ground.

    To me, the current mess sounds like a group of people agreeing to leave a restaurant because they don't like the food. Once they're out, they start to fight under the rain for hours because they can't agree on where to go next to have food. Now that they're out, the owner of the first restaurant tells them that if they had to come back, they will have to behave and can't ask for any special treatment anymore. Some of them want to go back because looking for a new place under the rain sounds not very promising and they think they shouldn't have left in the first place. Some people think that leaving immediately and trying their luck elsewhere is always better than arguing under the rain and do nothingy, or going back in a restaurant where they are not welcomed anymore. They also think that if people agreed to leave in the first place, they should deal with it.

    Thanks for all your videos they're great. Hope you will cover the French 2022 presidential elections. Our politics are as messy as yours and deep down it's the same issues we have, but in a different form and with a very different political system.

    Log in to Reply
14. 

    @kingbarneyoflondon

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    Redo the referendum but require 40% of registered voters to vote with 2/3 majority cause

    Log in to Reply
15. 

    @HybridBoss

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    its effectively a civil war without an actual call to arms.

    Log in to Reply
16. 

    @michaelgreen1515

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    With a more direct Brexit comment I would like to ask for opinions on why when there is a stereotype of a Brexiteer; are many of my clients 2nd generation Kurds and Turks, under 50s and most under 35 keen Brexiteers who voted in the referendum. I know what they say and understand their reasons: but I would like to know what you perceive them to be.

    Log in to Reply
17. 

    @michaelgreen1515

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    As it happens I am against referenda; totally in favour of constituency representative democracy (I believe local issues are more important than party issues, and that the sum total of local democracy, will represent the democratic forces and compromises of the united nation). I am completely against prorogation outside of the short period to prepare for a new session of parliament; or the alternative of not allowing parliament to disband both of which caused problems in the 17th century and left many dead, and a country more divided than ever (leaving many to cross the seas), I will confess I could conduct non-violent disruption in defence of these last two principles. Such are the times.

    Log in to Reply
18. 

    @MrXMysteriousX

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    Simple answer is Remain are refusing to allow any form of Brexit to happen.

    That is to say,they never accepted the result.
    All the "things are different,lets vote again,it'll damage the economy" whilst true ignore the simple truth-this was the path we chose,no matter how hard you make it,no matter if we are poorer for it,we will see it through to the end because the alternative is Democracy is destroyed.

    Log in to Reply
19. 

    @VME-Brad

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    As an American I don't have a horse in this race.
    That said, from the outside point of view:
    The Democratically elected Parliament agreed to send the question to the people in a referendum.
    The people voted to leave.
    Parliament overwhelmingly voted to trigger the article 50 process, fully aware of what that might entail (a no deal situation if a deal could not be reached)
    Snap election was called, people voted overwhelmingly for parties that claimed to "Honor the result of the referendum" by leaving the EU (Even Labor had this in their manifesto at the time). The people spoke again.
    Parliament repeatedly and by historic margins voted down every deal put to them.
    Sounds to me like Parliament effectively voted for the legal default of no deal.
    PM attempts to call another snap election now that parties have changed their platforms since there has been a call for one for the last 6 months and it would once again allow the people an effective vote on the subject.
    Opposition parties cause it to fail since they know they would lose massively.

    This whole thing is a mess, the reason "Brexit" is causing "economic problems" isn't Brexit its self, but the uncertainty surrounding the process. no one knows what tomorrow will bring so people aren't investing. Better to get it over and done with so any other problems that do crop up can be worked on instead of just making things more uncertain.
    Heck at this point even the speaker of the house has violated his neutrality by ignoring constitutional issues to allow remain MPs to push through a bill that never should have had a third reading.

    Log in to Reply
20. 

    @hermit4706

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    Yeah I think it's fair to say that at the very least brexit has made it very clear that our whole system needs a more modern reform.

    Log in to Reply
21. 

    @DoctorZaeus

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    I like the new format (host in front of camera), but sound quality could use improvement.

    Log in to Reply
22. 

    @Omega9935

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    The EU should kick English out, and if they want, they could rejoin to the EU. This way both the remainders and the brexiters can be satisfied. Every other normal solution are impossible here.

    Log in to Reply
23. 

    @Rocodil

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    At the time of the referendum nobody realized that the Northern Ireland border is an issue that cannot be solved. Brexit will not happen unless the UK gives up Northern Ireland or the same economic rules apply as today to make border passing without control possible.

    Log in to Reply
24. 

    @andreatamponi4435

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    I don't even know if Brexit it's going to happen but it would be the very first time people could feel the meaning of their "hubris"!
    
    I'm Italian and I can't wait the moment UK will leave EU.
    
    You must mourne the deepest over the fatal truth: you were the dumbest!

    Log in to Reply
25. 

    @wstraughn9507

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    The British people were asked on make a decision about something clearly more complicated than the average man in the street may have fully understood, or was made to understand. This is why you have trained persons who's job it is to understand the very complicated stuff and make the best decisions for the majority in a country. If the majority of british parliament believes to leave the EU in an uncontrolled manner is to invite disaster the likes of which the UK has not experienced since World war 2, then they should follow their consciences and do the right thing… However I do feel an election should be called, to allow the common people to confirm what they really want , now that they have seen a taste of the folly they have un-wittedly put themselves into…

    Log in to Reply
26. 

    @Kenji000

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    I can tell you all tried to balance the audio when swapping between the image format and in person format, but it is still way more apparent than when you held the mic

    Log in to Reply
27. 

    @LnnyOsoTo

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    I think it's a huge mistake for the UK to leave the EU, however I think the only way to avoid Brexit completely is to have a second referendum. If no second referendum is made then some sort of Brexit should happen.

    Log in to Reply
28. 

    @SteveUrlz

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    People are too emotional/uninformed to always take good decisions. I like that they had a chance, but if the parliament says it's a bad idea, it is a bad idea

    Log in to Reply
29. 

    @johncouzens5321

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    You arent TL;DR. Get out of here imposter.

    Log in to Reply
30. 

    @ShaneSimpkin

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    The thing is with Brexit (as far as I personally see it)
    The moment parliament decided to give the power of the decision directly to the people, it becomes their choice. Parliamentary democracy isn't being put into danger when it was parliament that allowed it.
    Regardless of the result, they crossed that bridge…
    It's really weird to watch as a person who was not of voting age when brexit happened.. having just left y11, and it was weird as teachers kept trying to involve us into discussions for things we had no power over.
    Now, if I had the chance to vote… what would I have voted for? Well, again knowing the way both sides were campaigning… i would feel scared of being blind to the truth. For example if that brexit bus slogan about more money to the NHS was true then of course that's a win for the UK but something didn't feel right about it… and well it turned out false.

    Parliament in 2019 KNOW that they are not representing the people despite the votes, that is why they won't allow the public to decide on the type of brexit that "we" voted on

    Log in to Reply
31. 

    @alejandroyepez

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    First:

    The vote should have been mandatory for all voter 90% of voters treshold.

    The campains where (leave mostly) just lying about how hard this really was.

    This is a Conservative Party Problem that Cameron pass on the General electorage it was a Mistake.

    For instance Scotland mostly vote No over independence in the notion that they leave the EU. And then england voters vote them out.

    All four contrys should have votr Yes.

    The Ireland cuestion was not really in peoples mind, if England want to leave the EU North Irleand maybe want to leave The UK (wich they can!).

    Log in to Reply
32. 

    @omgnowairly

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    Why don’t you compare the current political craziness with the desire to avoid the new EU tax laws. That’s the real force behind all this.

    Log in to Reply
33. 

    @mickricke3762

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    Britain is in this mess because they didn't honour the 1918 Irish referendum to leave the UK. and are now being held to ransom by the terrorist DUP dinosaurs.

    Log in to Reply
34. 

    @Lohoris

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    Italy is a mess, but it has one very smart law: you can't have referendums on Foreign policy, taxes, and amnesties.

    That's because people are expected not to be savvy enough to grasp how complex foreign policy is (and because most of them will always vote to lower the taxes, even when it would be detrimental for them).

    Log in to Reply
35. 

    @KneeJerkReactor

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    The dilemas of parliamentary government…

    Solution? SWITCH TO UNITARY GOV'T! House of lords becomes senate. House of commons becomes congress. Bercow Speaker of the house.
    Both houses are ONLY TASKED to create laws
    Abolish premiership. Scale back current PMs benefits and responsibilities to that of the lead executive: President

    MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL? GIVE THE POWER BACK TO PEOPLE! No 'electorate representation' . Everybody has an opportunity to cast their vote. THEIR REPRESENTATION on what they want on EVERY ISSUE.

    Log in to Reply
36. 

    @MagicAndWires

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    I keep flip flopping on whether referendums are a good idea in general, especially about issues this complicated, but I'm definitely sure non-binding referendums are not the one. we had a similar issue here in the Netherlands where we held a referendum about whether to support the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine, again something people generally don't know a lot about beyond "it bad" or "sure? I guess?". Turnout was absolutely abysmal at 32%.

    The main problem with referendums about specific issues versus general elections is that one group is always vastly more motivated to go out and vote than another, and I've never seen a government taking them serious enough to actually mobilize support, as they're simply used to executing a law or policy once they have passed it themselves. Eventually the government managed to work out a deal with the EU about some concessions, rather than withdrawing support completely (I guess that's the big difference with Brexit) but they abolished the referendum law after that.

    Log in to Reply
37. 

    @PlantFaceMan

    December 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm

    Because our political class does not want us to leave, and is prepared to destroy the foundation of trust democracy is built upon in order to gets its way.

    Log in to Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment Login