I am not enthusiastic about a second referendum. But then, I was not keen on the first which reduced a very complex issue to a simplistic black and white one. There was and is a case for an in-depth debate on our relationship with the EU, with the genuine pros and cons fully explored in a constructive way. We did not get that in 2016, and we have not had it since. But, contrary to the claims by Brexiteers such as Will Podmore, there is nothing undemocratic about having second thoughts. Indeed, it is the essence of democracy that decisions can be changed; that is why we have periodic elections. And the reason that Brexit has not been achieved is precisely because it has turned out to be so much more complex than it was claimed to be in 2016. Our sovereign Parliament, which has been the butt of so much criticism (some of it merited) has in fact been doing its job of holding the Government to account.
A small majority on one day, on as already noted a simplistic black and white proposition, representing only 37 per cent of the then electorate, cannot be a binding mandate for all time. Despite my concerns, a second referendum may be the way to settle the issue, but only of it is conducted very differently from the previous one. In the meantime, there is the general election, which is concerned with much wider issues than just Brexit.
Frank Jackson
Kingsmoor Road, Harlow
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