One word on Brexit:

[CapnSteve]

Non-binding.

[FBaggins]

1. So?

Even though Parliament opposed the move, they made clear beforehand that they would implement the will of the people.

After receiving the largest number of votes that any party/candidate/proposition in history has received... they're unlikely to thumb their noses.

[LeftishBrit]

2. Under 52%, and a significant number of Leavers now 'Bregret' their vote after the lies have been

exposed:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-news-second-eu-referendum-leave-voters-regret-bregret-choice-in-millions-a7113336.html

And two out of four of the UK's constituent countries voted to Remain (Scotland and Northern Ireland), while the other two, England and Wales, voted to Leave. It's very close.

In America, as I understand, you don't amend the constitution on a bare majority vote; you need three-quarters of the state legislatures.

I think a second referendum might be an option, now that people realize more the extent of lying and mis-selling involved; but however we go on from here, we can't see it as a huge mandate.

[FBaggins]

3. That's still more than a million votes over 48%, right?

There are always people (on both sides of an issue) with buyer's remorse the next day - particularly when the market takes a tumble on the news. There isn't any reason to believe that the results would be different. I saw a poll today with "remain" leading 45-40 with 15 percent preferring not to say (not undecided). Given the visceral response on the part of remain's supporters, it's entirely possible that those who would vote to leave have actually gained... and just don't want to say it. Also - the pre-vote polls were off in remain's favor by more than those five points.

And two out of four of the UK's constituent countries voted to Remain (Scotland and Northern Ireland), while the other two, England and Wales, voted to Leave. It's very close.

Again... so? It was actually overwhelming in both cases. Will you deny Scotland the ability to leave the UK if they feel that way at the next opportunity?

In America, as I understand, you don't amend the constitution on a bare majority vote; you need three-quarters of the state legislatures.

State legislatures or popular vote, but I see your point. I can certainly understand why you might prefer our system (since it was designed as an improvement on yours , but both sides of the pond have an obligation to follow the rules are they are laid out. The losing side doesn't get to call "do over" and change the rules so that they win.

I think a second referendum might be an option,

That could make sense after the UK negotiates their exit with the rest of the EU (so that people really know what they're voting on)... but how would you feel if Brexit had gone down to defeat and a vocal minority decided that they wanted to vote again? How many tries do they get before democracy is actually democracy?

[Denzil_DC]

4. If you're not getting many replies,

it may be because so many of us UK DUers have been through this argument over and over again by now on various DU forum and we're tired of going over the same old ground. I don't have the appetite or patience to repeat it all again.

If the vote had gone 52-48 for Remain, I would have expected UKIP and the rest of Leave to say that wasn't a decisive majority. They'd have been right. On the eve of poll, Nigel Farage himself said that very thing. I'd have wanted to see at least a ten-point margin, and even then I wouldn't have expected the issue to go away for ever.

Not that I was in favour of holding a referendum anyway.

Since this is a very major change and there were NO concrete plans at all for leaving - still aren't - I think there's a strong argument for maintaining the status quo. If no major UK party's making that case (except the Lib Dems, apparently), it's out of cowardice in fear of the right-wing uproar there'd be.

[LeftishBrit]

5. Just one point

' but how would you feel if Brexit had gone down to defeat and a vocal minority decided that they wanted to vote again? '

The petition for a second referendum did in fact originate with a pro-Brexit person who considered that if a referendum position is supported by less than 60% of voters, with less than a 75% turnout, it should be considered as invalid, and another referendum arranged. Obviously, he put forward the petition before the referendum, when he thought his side might lose! Either way, I think he had a valid point.

[T_i_B]

6. Well I'm off to a protest against leaving the EU today!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1008019715978064/1012498688863500/?notif_t=admin_plan_mall_activity&notif_id=1467276654288950

Although realistically I very much doubt that economic suicide can be averted.