Brexit. What If No Longer “The Will of the People”?

What if it is no longer the “Will of the People” for the UK to Leave the EU?  What should happen then?

The referendum in June last year gave UK voters a simple choice.  Leave or Remain.  Leave won by a slender 52:48.

One argument is that the people had their say.  It is up to the Government to deliver Leave, in whatever form, come what may.

The other argument is that the result was only a ‘starting gun’ and developments should be kept under review.  If arrangements to leave are going well, and polls suggest public support, then fine.  That is still the “Will of the People”.  But what if one or more of these is happening?

• What if the vision of Brexit that was sold is not going to be achieved? 
• What if opinion polls are clearly against the type of Brexit that is on the cards?
• What if the economic impact is not £350m a week more for the NHS, but less?  

We are now in that position where all three look to be happening.  Surely then the Government, or at least the MPs in Parliament as our democratically elected representatives, should call a halt?

A new deal with the EU was going to be quick and easy.  Some said the UK would stay in the Single Market.  Certainly nobody was proposing to leave without a deal.  But after four rounds of negotiations have failed to produce any substantial agreement, and trade talks will not start until they do, a “no deal” is very much on the cards.

Whilst polls asking “Leave or Remain” have moved in favour of Remain, what’s more striking is people’s attitudes to a “no deal”.  The latest poll suggests a clear 5 to 3 against a “no deal”.

The Treasury suggests “no deal” would produce a significant hit to the nation’s coffers, perhaps £15 billion a year.  That’s less money available for the NHS.

It’s clear that “no deal” is no longer the “Will of the People”.  Nor is it in the national interest.

This is an urgent matter.  We’re already seeing banks and other businesses move operations and jobs abroad.  Businesses are having to close down due to Brexit weakening the pound and increasing  their costs.  That was stated as a key reason behind Monarch’s closure yesterday, compounded by a rescue deal being prevented by the uncertainties about Brexit.

MPs should make a stand as our democratically-elected representatives.  The sooner the better to stop such losses.  Here’s how.