When it comes to Brexit, there’s now a chance to be leaders – will the UK Parliament blow it? From CNN/Money:
The U.K. High Court ruled that lawmakers should vote on whether the government can begin the formal Brexit process by triggering Article 50 of the EU treaty.
Experts say parliament is unlikely to block Brexit outright. But the ruling could mean Brexit is delayed, particularly by opposition in the upper chamber — the House of Lords. Lawmakers may get a chance to influence what kind of deal the government negotiates with the EU.
In my view, the referendum should never have occurred. The reason to have a representative government is to permit certain citizens the chance to become experts in the art of government. The referendum gave the busy, the amateurs, the contrarians, the uninformed, most of them good-willed, a chance to pitch in an opinion mostly limited to their personal experience.
Their High Court has now given Parliament an opportunity to revert that mistake by voting against Brexit. Although it appears the Labour Party is not willing to grasp the nettle:
The main opposition Labour Party has already said it won’t try to block Brexit and instead will use the ruling to push for a Brexit “that works for Britain, putting jobs, living standards and the economy first.”
And the report characterizes this as a defeat for the ruling Tories. But former PM Cameron was against Brexit; indeed, most of the Brexit advocates disappeared as soon as victory, surprising as it was, was achieved. They didn’t want the responsibility that came with that victory. The responsibility to clean up the impending mess.
If nothing else, reverting the decision would be a heartily deserved kick in the teeth for the Brexit advocates. And it might persuade the Scots to stick around as well.
