Quote Originally Posted by Bettyboo View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Pragmatic
The government isn't legally bound to accept the referendum result.
Suicide for the government though - could also see Corbyn being kicked out as Labour leader, a wet dream for Farage. We really do need (& I'm not saying Farage is it) a new ideology at the forefront of the Labour party; Corbyn doesn't look like he's it; very detached from the people on this issue (as are the trade union leadership).
William Astor: Why voting Leave won't mean we leave the EU | Coffee House

Gloom and doom blog, but its a fair point that even if we vote to leave, we will remain (trapped). Only goes to show that going down the EU road is a one way path with no getting off. Its our last chance, and its very possible, even likely, it wont result in us leaving the EU and even now the other potential ramifications are quite large.

Perhaps most important of all, if the Brexiteers win, an exit from the EU is actually not deliverable. The EU referendum is merely advisory; it has no legal standing to force an exit. Parliament is still sovereign. We will need an Act of Parliament to revoke the European Communities Act 1972, by which Britain joined the EEC or Common Market, or perhaps a paving bill enabling the Government to start the Leave negotiations. But whatever, a vote will be required.

The Government, whether still led by David Cameron or not, would probably not win the vote in the House of Commons. Labour could claim the referendum was too close and did not include a majority to leave in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Therefore the Labour Party, the SNP and the few Lib Dems would claim to have the mandate to vote against the bill.

It would then only take a few fiercely europhile Tories to consult their constituents and their consciences, and decide that after all their campaigning to stay in the EU they cannot vote to leave either. Can one imagine Ken Clarke voting to leave even on a three-line whip?

Reports this week suggested pro-EU MPs are already plotting to keep Britain in the EU whatever the result: on the basis that Vote Leave has not spelt out an alternative deal for Britain’s access to the single market, they will claim there is no mandate for change.