Could UK U-turn on Referendum Result

[beanoir]

Ok, so I have a gut feel that things won't be quite as straight cut as perhaps we may all think. I may be completely wrong, and likely so but thought it could be an interesting debate all the same.

The UK has the right under Article 50 (of the Lisbon Treaty) to initiate it's departure from the EU. Once that has been invoked, my understanding is it's kind of a point of no return. A period of negotiation will be at least 2 years.

David Cameron has stated he won't invoke the UK's rights under Article 50, so it won't happen until at least October. Cameron has resigned and so replacements are jostling for position for PM job, likely candidate being Boris.

Boris in his speech earlier, made a few hints at "no rush" to invoke Article 50 either, and made lots of hints at positive relationship with Europe and EU etc etc.

A referendum is not a legally binding directive, it's just a public opinion, I say 'just' but what I mean is that the Govt. has no legal obligation to follow that opinion. So they could choose to ignore the referendum, although this would normally be considered political suicide and wouldn't happen...under normal circumstances.

Now, if you look at the demographics of the voting population in this referendum, I suspect that it could be construed not to be particularly suicidal for Boris to decide not to follow the opinion of the vote to leave, and in fact may maintain what he considers to be the majority of Conservative supporters and also win more from the remain camp - winning him and the Tories a healthy majority of the voting population.

I wouldn't bet my house on this, but I reckon we could see some political worming out of the idea of leaving the EU and doing a deal with Brussels instead - I don't think Boris actually intended leaving the EU at all.

Madness?

Edited by beanoir on Friday 24th June 15:36

Edited by beanoir on Friday 24th June 15:37

[beanoir]

digimeistter said:

No chance! They will not risk riding rough shod over the electorate's decision.

I'm not so sure, normally I'd be right with you on that, but it's only 51.9% of the electorate and I suspect there is a further fair percentage of those that voted Leave who, in the cold light of day are wondering if that was such a great idea. So if those not quite sure, added to the 48.1% who voted Remain provide a majority, were to be presented with a well negotiated deal that had been negotiated with the EU by a man with the power vested in him to invoke Article 50 in his back pocket, I can start to see how it might be work.