Letter: The Only Answer Is a General Election

Published on: 1 Sep, 2018
Updated on: 1 Sep, 2018

From Sue Fox

In response to: Referendums Are Not the Kind of Democracy Our Country Needs

Has anyone read the first tranche of advisory measures if there is no deal? Stockpiling drugs, having to fly in isotopes, food shortages. And that’s only a start.

The referendum was undemocratic; it excluded British Nationals in Europe including Gibraltar and the 16 and 17-year-olds who were eligible to vote in the Scottish referendum as it would affect their futures, but who were excluded from the EU referendum which could affect them at least as much. All of them will face difficulties if we have a deal or no deal.

Two years plus has shown the difficulties of unwinding 40+ years of integration.

Horrible racism – on a personal note the only plumber/ electrician would come out on a Saturday to rescue us from potential flooding was a Polish gentleman, my emergency electrician and I made 18 phone calls before getting him.

Farmers having crops rotting as there are no people to pick. The prospect of GM foods, chlorinated chicken, beef stuffed with antibiotics – no thank you.

Fish wars!

Problems with our space programme – expecting Surrey space to re-invent the wheel.

Lack of healthcare people. The list is endless and we must not forget the Northern Irish border problems. Or the complete shut down of the M20.

Austerity forever or the Rees Mogg’ estimate of 50 years.

We, the people of Surrey, voted to Remain and the only answer is a General Election after Parliament says no.

Responses to Letter: The Only Answer Is a General Election

John Perkins Reply

September 1, 2018 at 4:33 pm

Yes, and the sky will fall and there will be plagues of boils and locusts are missing from the list.

16 and 17-year-olds are not allowed to vote in general elections either. British nationals living abroad were allowed a vote in the referendum, as were those living in Gibraltar (who also cannot vote in general elections).

Why is it indicative of racism to be able to find only a Polish plumber?

Who is this “We, the people”? Out of a Surrey population of 1.2 million, 850,000 voted and the margin in favour of Remain was less than 29,000 (3%). In any case, the underlying assumption seems to be that the people of Surrey are so much more important than those of other places. Not quite racist, but rather unpleasant.
Stuart Barnes Reply

September 2, 2018 at 8:34 am

You seem to have missed out World War 3 and the plagues of locusts in your summary of the consequences of our country becoming free again.
Daniel Andrew Reply

September 2, 2018 at 2:15 pm

51.9% does not carry a strong enough majority to make such a decision. An extraordinary decision requires an extraordinary majority. This is needed to ensure enough collective conviction to see it through. The consequences of failing to secure an extraordinary majority are all around us – division, indecision and uncertainty.

It is over two years since the referendum and still we do not have a plan. Where was the plan of the Leavers? Did they vote for this in the hope that a plan would fall out of the sky?

We took for granted what we were and what we had. Now, in embarrassing fashion, we are paying for it.

The sky will not fall, life will go on. Will it eventually be better than it was? And will it have been worth the cost? I want to say yes but it is difficult to believe it.
Janice Dempsey Reply

September 2, 2018 at 2:42 pm

I would ask Sue Fox to please ignore the above bullying replies to her comment.

I share her legitimate fears and remember the false promises blatantly made before the plebiscite, blatantly broken since.

The future looks grim for the next generation, as well as the present one. However, a general election is not going to help much because the Labour party is just as broken and split as the Conservatives, with a leader who believes we should leave the EU. We will all have to lie on the bed that Cameron made for us.
John Perkins Reply

September 2, 2018 at 6:53 pm

I sometimes wonder how many would claim that the majority wasn’t strong enough if the result had gone the other way.

No party has achieved even 50% of the vote in general elections since 1945, yet nobody has ever denied their right to govern if they formed the majority.

For 45 years we were all lying on a bed made for us by Edward Heath. It was becoming progressively more uncomfortable and it’s not unreasonable to imagine it collapsing.

By all means live in fear, but please don’t try to impose it on others.