New UK Petition Calling for New Brexit Vote
No sooner has the Brexit vote passed, the referendum withdrawing the United Kingdom from the European Union, than a new referendum has been called to modify the referendum results, post-passage.
In other words, those who were opposed to the U.K. withdrawing from the EU have started a petition to call into question the Brexit results. And as of the writing of this story, nearly 2 million signatures have been added to the petition.
Two million sign petition demanding a new #Brexit referendum: https://t.co/7h9UZg9Gc8 pic.twitter.com/0OOFtuaQY3
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) June 25, 2016
The Brexit vote resulted in 51.9 percent of UK residents demanding the U.K. pull out of the EU, while 48.1 percent voted to remain in the EU. But the new petition is asking for a new referendum to be issued.
British Parliament to consider a million-strong petition for a new referendum on whether to remain in EU or #Brexit.https://t.co/BMfdp31XdE
— Shubhash Wostey (@wostey) June 25, 2016
According to Lizzie Dearden of the Independent, “Signatories are calling for a new rule to be implemented stipulating that polls on the European Union with a majority under 60 percent and turnout under 75 percent must be re-started.” They’re not petitioning for a recount, but a re-vote.
According to the BBC, “The petition’s website states it was set up by an individual called William Oliver Healey, and says: ‘We the undersigned call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the Remain or Leave vote is less than 60 percent, based on a turnout less than 75 percent, there should be another referendum.’ Thursday saw a 72.2 percent turnout, significantly higher than the 66.1 percent turnout at last year’s general election, but below the 75 percent mark suggested by Mr. Healey as a threshold.”
At this point, the parliament is not considering another follow-up referendum according to recently resigned British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Further complicating matters is the fact not everyone in the U.K. wanted to withdraw from the EU. Both Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU. “The Scottish independence referendum in 2014 had a turnout of 84.6 percent — but there has not been a turnout above 75 percent at any general election since 1992,” the BBC stated. (For more from the author of “New UK Petition Calling for New Brexit Vote” please click HERE)
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