Opinion: Lib Dem policy of revoking article 50 is an attack on democracy

The Liberal Democrats are seemingly thoroughly enjoying their annual conference on the south coast in Bournemouth. The mainline coming out of this is the party formally adopting the policy of revoking article 50, should the Lib Dem’s win the next general election. This policy has without doubt succeeded in courting thorough-bred Remainers. However, it has also reminded a large cross-section of society just how misnamed the Liberal Democrats party is. This has also led to many dissenting voices in the Lib Dem ranks citing comments from the late Paddy Ashdown which stated: “I will forgive no one who does not accept the sovereign voice of the British people once it has spoken whether it’s by one per cent or 20 per cent”.  The Lib Dems currently hold 18 MPs, 6 of whom are defectors from other parties.

However, the sham outrage that is being put out by other remain groups truly is shameful. Labour MP Stephen Kinnock has slammed the Revoke policy as “undemocratic” in the Guardian. This is the same MP who campaigns for a second referendum. Mr Kinnock is correct to an extent; revoking would certainly be a more audacious rebuttal of the 17.4million who voted Brexit. However, a ‘peoples vote’ is not democratic by any means especially given the fact that those pushing for it have made it clear that it would be rigged against Leave, providing a choice between Remain and the abhorrent withdrawal agreement and no deal. 

A further vote in the future on EU membership, a good while after the first vote has been implemented would be more than democratic. However, Britain has not exited yet. Democracies can change their minds. Whilst the new Liberal Democrat policy is without a doubt an attack on democracy at least they now have a coherent policy and have removed the second referendum mask behind which the Labour Party are currently hidden behind as a means of being all things to everyone. The Liberal Democrats are now being honest, the newfound Lib Dem critics most certainly are not, and many are foreseeing a hammering at the ballot box for those politicians who are staunchly ambivalent.   

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Oliver Down

Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!

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