Brexit Referendum Day

[Belsnickel]

(06-24-2016, 10:13 PM)CKwi88 Wrote: Color me surprised. This is why I'm not a betting man. I suppose. It seems like the Brits would prefer to burn it down (figuratively) and start from scratch so to speak, rather than try and fix what was broken.

It'll be painful in the short to intermediate term I suppose, but hopefully there is some progress made out of this. Or Boris the buffoon steps up.

I've read that the vote is not binding, and that the UK could end up staying in the EU after another vote two years down the road or so. I'll try and find the article again.

Either way it'll be an interesting couple of years across the pond. I'm still shocked that it happened.

So, there is a way that legally the UK government can ignore the referendum, though it is not likely that will happen. With this vote they now have two years, per the Lisbon Treaty, to negotiate their exit. This must be approved by the EU Parliament or Commission, can't remember which. If an agreement is not reached/approved in that time, they either exit immediately or add an extension. There is, however, a petition already with the required number of signatures to be responded to by the UK Parliament to consider a second referendum vote due to the close outcome.

There is also movement by Scotland to hold a second independence referendum as many voted to remain in the UK simply because leaving meant leaving the EU as well. Sinn Fein has made comments about moving to unify Ireland. Spain has also smelled blood in the water and has renewed its claim to Gibraltar. All three areas in the UK voting firmly to remain but being dragged out of the EU by England and, surprisingly, Wales. Hell, some Londoners even want to seek membership to the EU as an independent city.