Following the EU referendum the Lib Dems tried to establish themselves as being the party who represent the 48% of voters who voted Remain. One proposal they have put forward is for a referendum on whether we, as a nation, want to accept the final Brexit package. A number of Leave supporters are unhappy about that suggestion but should they be?
Theresa May seems to think because an advisory referendum gave a result of 52% of people wanting to leave the EU that it should mean her government (which only 37% of people voted for at the last general election) is allowed to implement whatever Brexit package they see fit without giving anyone (including MPs outside her cabinet) an opportunity to have any further say. If her government is allowed to do that it could result in a Brexit package which hardly anyone is happy with whether they voted Leave or Remain. With Brexit we won’t get a chance to change things in five years time if we are unhappy, like we do with electing MPs, so if Theresa May gets away with it we could all be unhappy for the rest of our lives.
So who is going to stop Theresa May? The Labour Party who don’t seem to be providing effective opposition to a weak Conservative government? The SNP who only represent a pro-Remain Scotland? UKIP whose lone ranger in the Houses of Parliament has a view on Brexit which isn’t shared by many other MPs? Or the Lib Dems who want the voters to have more of a say than just Brexit or No Brexit but are a pro-EU party? None of those options seem to be ideal but failing a General Election being called before we leave the EU the Lib Dems are probably the best party to hold the Conservatives to account on Brexit.
