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Brexit petition passes 2.5 million as demand for second EU referendum grows | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
More than two and a half million people have signed a petition demanding a second EU referendum after an MP called for Parliament to refuse to ratify Brexit. | |
Signatories are calling for a new rule to be implemented stipulating that polls on the European Union with a majority under 60 per cent and turnout under 75 per cent must be re-started. | Signatories are calling for a new rule to be implemented stipulating that polls on the European Union with a majority under 60 per cent and turnout under 75 per cent must be re-started. |
However, no such rule or convention currently exists and political experts have said a second vote would be out of the question. | |
According to Professor Vernon Bogdanor, a prominent constitutional expert, a second referendum is "highly unlikely". | |
“I don’t think the EU will wish to bargain any further, they will take this vote as final,” he told The Telegraph. | |
Another political scientist, Professor John Curtice, said to the Evening Standard: "How many people voted in favour of Leave? Seventeen million. One million is chicken feed by comparison. | |
"It's no good people signing the petition now, they should have done it before. Even then, these petitions don't always mean a great deal." | |
But the petition is now likely to be the fastest growing ever and is double the number of people who wanted Jeremy Clarkson reinstated on BBC TV programme Top Gear. | |
Many people, including David Lammy MP, have quoted Nigel Farage's statement in which he said a close result would be grounds for a second referendum. | Many people, including David Lammy MP, have quoted Nigel Farage's statement in which he said a close result would be grounds for a second referendum. |
In May, Mr Farage had said: "In a 52-48 referendum this would be unfinished business by a long way. If the remain campaign win two-thirds to one-third that ends it." | In May, Mr Farage had said: "In a 52-48 referendum this would be unfinished business by a long way. If the remain campaign win two-thirds to one-third that ends it." |
However, Ukip have rejected the current result as grounds for another plebiscite. A party source told the Mirror: “Our feeling is that the status quo often gets a boost and this is the new status quo. | However, Ukip have rejected the current result as grounds for another plebiscite. A party source told the Mirror: “Our feeling is that the status quo often gets a boost and this is the new status quo. |
“You’re right, 48-52 is close, however the PM’s gone, the Chancellor’s got to follow, the whole Project Fear campaign is in disarray and I’m sure Bob Geldof is crying into his f***ing cornflakes. | “You’re right, 48-52 is close, however the PM’s gone, the Chancellor’s got to follow, the whole Project Fear campaign is in disarray and I’m sure Bob Geldof is crying into his f***ing cornflakes. |
“I know there’s an online petition to have another referendum but I think honestly I think if people want to go for it a little further down the line it would be a hiding for nothing. | “I know there’s an online petition to have another referendum but I think honestly I think if people want to go for it a little further down the line it would be a hiding for nothing. |
“We feel that with this being the new status quo 48-52 might very soon turn into a larger figure.” | “We feel that with this being the new status quo 48-52 might very soon turn into a larger figure.” |
It would be theoretically possible to for the government to call a second referendum but very unlikely in reality as those poised to take charge backed the Leave campaign. | It would be theoretically possible to for the government to call a second referendum but very unlikely in reality as those poised to take charge backed the Leave campaign. |
Brexit cannot actually take place until Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty has been invoked by the government. | Brexit cannot actually take place until Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty has been invoked by the government. |