Liberal Democrats Vow to Keep Britain in the EU After Next Election

This is smart by the Lib Dems if nothing else. They had basically destroyed their own brand with their complicity with David Cameron in the austerity wave in the Coalition government.

Here is a way for them to stand for something meaningful again.

And 3 million Brits and counting have signed a petition for a new referendum.

Now the Liberal Democrats set themselves up as the party to deliver on this desire to stay in the EU.

Some seem to take a hard line on this. Now that there's been a referendum, that's it they believe.

"That there are 2 million people who would sign something like this further undermines my faith in, well, democratic outcomes."

https://twitter.com/shadihamid/status/746855342856867841

I admire the work Hamid does on Middle Eastern studies, and understand his sensitivity to democratic legitimacy. His perspective is shaped from seeing how often democratic results are tabled in the Middle East.

Still, I can't buy that there are no do overs on a 50.1 percent referendum.

As for the Liberal Democrats, they are running on disregarding the referendum. Is that anti democratic?

If so, then presumably in the next democratic election they will not get many votes. If they do, then it will show that most Brits don't think it's so undemocratic after all to have second thoughts.

The Liberal Democrats will stand at the next general election on a platform of derailing Brexit and keeping Britain in the EuropeanUnion, the party has announced.

Leader Tim Farron said on Saturday night that he would be “clear and unequivocal” with voters that if elected it would set aside the referendum result and keep Britain in the EU.

He said the referendum result amounted to a “howl of anger” at politicians and that the election of a liberal government would be a way of registering a change of heart by the electorate

Though the next general election is scheduled for 2020 under the Fixed Term Parliament Act (FTPA), David Cameron’s resignation and major loopholes in the legislation mean it could come as early as the autumn or early next year.

A successor to Mr Cameron is planned to be in place by Conservative Party conference in October and it is expected that whoever is chosen will immediately come under pressure to call an early election.

This is possible under the FTPA if a simple majority of MPs vote no confidence in their own government and an alternative government cannot be formed within 14 days. Alternatively, a two-thirds majority of MPs can call an election with a vote.

“For many millions of people, this was not just a vote about Europe. It was a howl of anger at politicians and institutions who they felt they were out of touch and had let them down,” Mr Farron said.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-eu-referendum-result-lib-dems-remain-liberal-democrats-live-policy-stay-leave-a7103186.html

When you consider the sort of lies the Brexiters told to win, this seems pretty fair to me.

Cameron had won in 2014 based on a promise to call the referendum. Now the Lib Dems will run on a promise to overturn it.

More talk of a Lib Dem-Labour coalition to defeat Brexit.

A Labour-Lib Dem coalition with a number 1 pledge to stay in the EU, anyone? Corbyn will have to go either way."

https://twitter.com/jeremyweate/status/746811108812427264

Jeremy Corby seems to be in some trouble.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36632956?

It's felt that he wasn't a strong enough advocate for Remain.