The result of the EU referendum:

[ProfessorDavey]

Everyone, MPs, commentators etc., are talking as though it is binding. I think if it wasn't Andrew Neil would have made this clear, and he's gospel.

Likewise they talked about the Scottish referendum in the same manner, but it wasn't binding at all.

I doubt that the government would renege on enacting the result of the referendum, but I don't think it is legally binding. Were the referendum to vote for out it would require a further act to pass through parliament to actually make that happen. In theory the government could chose not to bring forward that piece of legislation.

[Nearly Sane]

Everyone, MPs, commentators etc., are talking as though it is binding. I think if it wasn't Andrew Neil would have made this clear, and he's gospel.

It's incredibly unlikely that action wouldn't follow but people don;t talk about any laws as if they aren't binding on the govt. The fact is that they aren't because there is a method to enforce it.

[jeremyp]

It's sealed. Michael Gove is campaigning for EU exit. That means it must clearly be better to stay in.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35617843

[Jack Knave]

It's sealed. Michael Gove is campaigning for EU exit. That means it must clearly be better to stay in.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35617843

From what I gather he was the lynch pin as to some crucial others in the Tory party would fall. This call herald for a big fight within the party. 

[SusanDoris]

It's sealed. Michael Gove is campaigning for EU exit. That means it must clearly be better to stay in.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35617843

Definitely agree. I listened to some of Five Live in the night and there seemed to be far more people - journalists or politicians, or whatever they were - being interviewed who were for leaving than for staing, but I didn't bother to pick up the phone!

[L.A.]

It's sealed. Michael Gove is campaigning for EU exit. That means it must clearly be better to stay in.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35617843

Unfortunately we have Blair campaigning for IN though.

As someone noted on News Quiz, if one side could manage to send their supporters abroad for 3 months, they would probably win!

[Nearly Sane]

Following on from L.A.'s comment, the picture is frightening


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-negotiations-mass-walk-outs-as-george-galloway-speaks-at-anti-eu-grassroots-out-rally-a6885541.html

[L.A.]

Following on from L.A.'s comment, the picture is frightening


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-negotiations-mass-walk-outs-as-george-galloway-speaks-at-anti-eu-grassroots-out-rally-a6885541.html

I think that photo is just what the IN campaign need.

[Nearly Sane]

I think that photo is just what the IN campaign need.

Indeed, I think they should use it as an advert.

[L.A.]

Indeed, I think they should use it as an advert.

But it would probably have to carry the health warning:


May cause vomiting

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Where's the brexit plan?
How is a globalist conservative government going to keep wages low without large scale immigration?
How much of the freed up euro payment going to go on public utilities and services?

[Jack Knave]

It's sealed. Michael Gove is campaigning for EU exit. That means it must clearly be better to stay in.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35617843

And that's your argument for staying in, because you don't like Gove. Hahahaaha....How stupid!!!

[Jack Knave]

Following on from L.A.'s comment, the picture is frightening


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-negotiations-mass-walk-outs-as-george-galloway-speaks-at-anti-eu-grassroots-out-rally-a6885541.html

Yes, there are going to be some strange bed fellows in this referendum.

[Jack Knave]

I think that photo is just what the IN campaign need.

A very unnerving photo. But to Farage's credit he is sticking with those who want to Leave even though their reasons are different to his. And Galloway's reason are not bad ones.

[Hope]

Was interested to hear Norman Tebbit quoting Aneurin Bevan on Radio 4's PM programme earlier to explain why he no longer agrees with our membership of Europe.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Boris could just sit on the fence and keep his vote to himself.

[Gordon]

Boris could just sit on the fence and keep his vote to himself.

On that we agree - why his view is especially important seems solely to do with in-fighting within the Tory party, which is of course the reason why we have this referendum in the first place.

We have a lame-duck PM presiding over a split cabinet, while at the same time saying the government position is 'stay in', and who hasn't the balls to get rid of the Eurosceptic faction within his own cabinet and where, it seems, Boris is more influential than our glorious PM - in appeasement terms it seems Dave is on a par with Neville.   

[Walt Zingmatilder]

On that we agree - why his view is especially important seems solely to do with in-fighting within the Tory party, which is of course the reason why we have this referendum in the first place.

We have a lame-duck PM presiding over a split cabinet, while at the same time saying the government position is 'stay in', and who hasn't the balls to get rid of the Eurosceptic faction within his own cabinet and where, it seems, Boris is more influential than our glorious PM - in appeasement terms it seems Dave is on a par with Neville.

Yes it should be an open and shut case of a loss of party control...........
However the great unwashed need to be governed and so the Tory party are now cast as vote shepherds.

[Gordon]

Yes it should be an open and shut case of a loss of party control...........
However the great unwashed need to be governed and so the Tory party are now cast as vote shepherds.

Here in Scotland I think that the high-profile Tories based in southern England: Dave, Boris, IDS and Gideon et al, would have trouble influencing or shepherding a rancid leg of lamb irrespective of what side of the stay/leave debate they are on.

Be interesting to what position Ruth Davidson adopts during the forthcoming Holyrood campaign since her expectations of out-performing Labour could be undermined by the 'leave' brigade in that the indications are that The Scottish electorate are pro-EU.

[Hope]

I'm looking forward to seeing how Nicola reacts should there be a majority of the UK voting to remain in the EU, but only a minority of Scots doing so!!   

[Hope]

We have a lame-duck PM presiding over a split cabinet, while at the same time saying the government position is 'stay in', and who hasn't the balls to get rid of the Eurosceptic faction within his own cabinet and where, it seems, Boris is more influential than our glorious PM - in appeasement terms it seems Dave is on a par with Neville.

Is he any more 'lame duck' than Blair or Brown or Major or even Thatcher?

[L.A.]

Boris could just sit on the fence and keep his vote to himself.

He'd lose all credibility if he did that and he's much too ambitious to vote according to his conscience or the national interest.   No, he's trying to suss-out which way the popular vote will go, then he'll jump in that direction.

[Gordon]

Is he any more 'lame duck' than Blair or Brown or Major or even Thatcher?

Hard to say if he is any lamer, but then none of the above are much to write home about in terms of which is the least worst, and of course the scenarios surrounding each were different.

[Gordon]

I'm looking joforward to seeing how Nicola reacts should there be a majority of the UK voting to remain in the EU, but only a minority of Scots doing so!!   

I think Nicola isn't worried about the Scotland voting to the leave the EU - all the indications are this is unlikely.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

He'd loose all credibility if he did that and he's much too ambitious to vote according to his conscience or the national interest.   No, he's trying to suss-out which way the popular vote will go, then he'll jump in that direction.

How accurate will his decision be given that we are told that votes depend on him rather than what you are suggesting, that he is looking to see what we do.