YP Letters: Wafer-thin EU referendum result is not mandate to leave

FOR many golf clubs, musical societies, bridge clubs etc. it is accepted practice that constitutional change requires not just a simple majority vote but a “super-majority”.

Often the threshold is set at two-thirds.

In 1978, a referendum 
on extending devolution in Scotland required the support of 
40 per cent or more of those entitled to vote.

In that year 37 per cent voted in favour – but the proposition fell at the super-majority 
hurdle.

The June 2016 referendum on EU membership was advisory only and this was made very clear as the Referendum Bill went through parliament.

Because it was advisory only, our Parliamentarians chose not to specify a super-majority requirement.

As we know, there was a narrow (52:48) majority in favour of “Leave” which came nowhere near achieving the super-majority requirement that would have been in place if the vote had been, from the start, mandatory.

Conservative leaders from David Cameron and George Osborne to Theresa May have done the country a great disservice by allowing the UK to become embroiled in the fiasco of seeking to exit from the EU on a wafer-thin result in an advisory-only referendum.

Historians in 50 years time will shake their heads in 
disbelief as to how we got into this mess.

And by the way, there are now consistent opinion polling results showing a lead for “Remain”. How do you square that circle?

From: Terry Morrell, Willerby.

THERE is little wonder that we are struggling to escape the shackles of the EU when we are represented by MEPs like Richard Corbett (The Yorkshire Post, January 18).

The negotiations are mired by the intransigence of the rigid demands constantly being made this greedy bunch of highway men.

It is high time that we said ‘enough is enough ‘ and walk away with a no deal statement and just see what reaction this gets when the EU discovers that they cannot push us around like they have regularly done to many of the other constituent countries.

Mr Corbett, get on side!

From: CS Heaton, Kirkburton, Huddersfield.

WHO, may I ask, from the UK electorate, voted for Richard Corbett to be their representative in the European Parliament?