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Brexit electoral commision report

Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 5:47 pm
by LongGone
Having lived in N. America since the 60s I am not up on the legal ramifications of the report. The responses seem to range from “Ah, well” to “Exceeding the spending cap should nullify the vote” Could forum members provide input on just what the law says, and what possible penalties might apply.

Re: Brexit electoral commision report

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 7:31 pm
by sejintenej
My understanding is that this report was issued without any reference to those who organised the Brexit demand nor consulting them about the accuracy of any statements made. To me it smacks of those National Socialists sympathisers who wish to make that German woman Fuhrer.

Re: Brexit electoral commision report

Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:21 am
by scrub
My understanding is that as the referendum was officially run as an advisory poll it wasn't required to be run by the rules (and oversight) of a formal election. Once politicians got the result they wanted they declared it 'the will of the people (TM)' and it went through parliament. So while the funding and running of the leave campaign may be called dubious (and illegal if it was an election) it didn't break any laws and we are where we are.
The referendum wasn't legally binding, and while politicians didn't explicitly say it was, they have used the result to push through the bills to trigger A50 and all of that.

Basically, it's something that will be used in law textbooks that my grandkids will read, but in practical terms it means I get to live in interesting times and have a front row seat for early 21st century UK political history.
I've made popcorn.

Re: Brexit electoral commision report

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 9:49 pm
by rockfreak
You'll have a front row seat as the UK walks off a cliff next March and consigns itself to third world status. The trouble is that the majority of MPs are for Remain but they fear upsetting their constituents if they represent a constituency which voted Leave. This particularly applies to Labour MPs who represent northern constituencies (like Sunderland) that were bombed out by Thatcherism in the 80s but have somehow come to believe that it's all the EU's fault. They'll wake up when Nissan announces that it can't afford to stay here with tariffs suddenly applied on their exports to the EU and their lorries held up at the ports. I don't fully understand why the people in these constituencies haven't worked this out, except that they appear to be characters from the pages of Viz - a cast of Sid the Sexists and Fat Slags. Unfortunately our MPs aren't very brave and few have stood up thus far to face down the rednecks and read the riot act to them regardless of the consequences. It's a fortunate MP who has another source of income and can afford to stand up and tell the truth now and again, although that may well apply more to Tory MPs than to Labour.

Re: Brexit electoral commision report

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 12:40 pm
by J.R.
Well David Davis has certainly livened the debate up.

Anyone with odds on the date of the start of the next English Civil War ??

Re: Brexit electoral commision report

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 3:18 pm
by scrub
J.R. wrote: Mon Jul 09, 2018 12:40 pmAnyone with odds on the date of the start of the next English Civil War ??
Bit late for that, the Tory one's been going for ages!

Re: Brexit electoral commision report

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 7:27 pm
by rockfreak
The problems in this country were on view on tonight's evening news as the news of Bozza's resignation came through. Two people in his Uxbridge constituency said they liked him because he was amusing! He and Jacob Rees-Mogg are like characters out of Brideshead, a novel written seventy years ago about a bunch of upper class twits. Until this country grows up we shall continue to be ill served by our leaders.