Why in the argument that “Brexiteers didn’t know what they were voting for” not being

[Burney]

There were people like that Professor of EU Law, working for the University of Liverpool who was said to have had a vested interest, because his uni got some EU grant somewhere. Compare his modest University salary to the money he could make advising the UK Govt on how best to establish a post-Brexit UK, and he probably voted against his personal interests. Manufacturers telling us that they wouldn't manufacture in the UK if they had to pay tariffs on incoming materials and be charged tariffs for the suff they produce, only had vested interests, in the sense that it is obviously a high risk to their UK business operations which needed spelling out to people (which was dismissed anyway).

The way we usually make major decisions is in the HoCs after following due process, extensive cross examining, publishing detailed white papers, issuing bills and laws and generally ensuring that we actually know what we are signing up for. We don't ask the public to directly vote about whether we should invade a country, without telling them what the country is, who we're up against , who our allies may be etc. Our elected politicians debate it in parliament, consider all the facts and make the decision on our behalf

A desire to maintain a status quo that happens to suit you rather than risk the unknown is also a vested interest, I'm afraid. And if you take money from the EU, don't expect anyone to take you seriously as an independent voice on matters pertaining to the EU. Wouldn't you question someone who claimed to speak independently about climate change if you found they'd taken money from the oil industry, for instance?

The referendum took place in no small part because our parliamentary system was shown to be unfit for purpose when it came to representing the people's views. Despite a huge groundswell of anti-EU sentiment, MPs were overwhelmingly pro-EU and thus the public were being ignored - making them understandably angry. It wasn't until another party (UKIP) gained traction and potentially threatened Tory majorities that the public's feelings were even acknowledged. In effect, the referendum came about in order to meet a democratic shortfall in our system of government.

[Ash]

People voted against something, which they can't possibly understand in enough detail. It was incredibly reckless to put this decision in the hands of laymen. The few people who understand the financial aspects of the EU in detail (professors, economists, CEOs) were dismissed as having vested interests, mocked and ignored.

These anti-democratic impulses are similar to the arguments used against the Chartists, the Suffragettes and all the way back to the Levellers. Only the elite capitalists, financiers and political classes, we are told, (whose wisdom, of course, brought us the great crash of 2008), can be allowed to decide the destiny of all, and the common man and women must defer to their betters. And that destiny is to be a Europe united under an unelected and unnacountable leadership.

The same experts, by the way, whose policies have devastated the economies of southern Europe and pretty much destroyed Greece, while placing blame on the Greek people.

Yes, there will be a short-to-medium term economic hit to leaving the single market. No, it is not essential to exist in a supranational state (where not everyone shares the benefits). Yes, there is every reason to be confident that new trade deals can be struck both elsewhere and with a Europe that will still want to trade with us, assuming the government is committed to competently persuing this.

And yes, there are definitely vested interests squealing the loudest. From bankers and their billions of bonuses to the middle-class with their cheap au-pairs and builders.

[Ash]

Jesus ****ing Christ, still whingeing about Brexit.

You have voted, one side won. Just get on with it.

Welcome back me old china. You have been missed.

And it isn't yet possible to go to the pub in London without people still whingeing about Brexit and how evil and stupid all Leave voters are.

[Brentwood]

A desire to maintain a status quo that happens to suit you rather than risk the unknown is also a vested interest, I'm afraid. And if you take money from the EU, don't expect anyone to take you seriously as an independent voice on matters pertaining to the EU. Wouldn't you question someone who claimed to speak independently about climate change if you found they'd taken money from the oil industry, for instance?

The referendum took place in no small part because our parliamentary system was shown to be unfit for purpose when it came to representing the people's views. Despite a huge groundswell of anti-EU sentiment, MPs were overwhelmingly pro-EU and thus the public were being ignored - making them understandably angry. It wasn't until another party (UKIP) gained traction and potentially threatened Tory majorities that the public's feelings were even acknowledged. In effect, the referendum came about in order to meet a democratic shortfall in our system of government.

He works for a uni and the uni gets some research money from the EU. You can't dismiss somebody who has spent his life studying the intricacies of the EU because of that. Especially one who could become super rich consulting the govt on how to navigate our way out of the EU. Otherwise you could say any expert has a vested interest in anything.

[SWv2]

Exactly. We voted for Irexit in 1917 or something didn't we sw? And we just got on with it. Bloody whinging Brits

Remind me who is "we" these days?

One day you are a blessed son of the British Empire, next day you are crawling to us asking (begging) to become Irish then come international football tournament day you become a Dutcher.

You change identity more often than Mr Benn.

[Ash]

Remind me who is "we" these days?

One day you are a blessed son of the British Empire, next day you are crawling to us asking (begging) to become Irish then come international football tournament day you become a Dutcher.

You change identity more often than Mr Benn.

Mr Benn

[redgunamo]

Mr Benn

Max Mosley, imo, talking of Formula 1.

[Sir C]

Remind me who is "we" these days?

One day you are a blessed son of the British Empire, next day you are crawling to us asking (begging) to become Irish then come international football tournament day you become a Dutcher.

You change identity more often than Mr Benn.

The blood of Brian Boru flows like fire through my veins, sw.

[World's End Stella]

The same experts, by the way, whose policies have devastated the economies of southern Europe and pretty much destroyed Greece, while placing blame on the Greek people.

You mean the Greek people who consistently avoid paying tax and who voted for a series of governments who established a civil service whose compensation, including exorbitant pension benefits, the government could not possibly afford shouldn't take the overwhelming majority of the blame for the collapse of the Greek economy?

Blimey.

[redgunamo]

Do you blame yourself if your customers decide not to pay their bills?