There’s a Canadian precedent for U.K. government’s Brexit decision

Although U.K. voters voted to leave the EU on June 23 by the narrow margin of 51.9 per cent to 48.1 per cent that result is not legally binding. To implement that decision the British government must invoke Article 50 of the 2009 EU Lisbon Treaty.

One of the main Leave supporters, United Kingdom Independence Party Leader Nigel Farage, has already admitted that their popular promise to voters during the campaign that all the money currently paid to the EU by the U.K. would be redirected into increased funding for the National Health Service was 'a mistake.' Photograph courtesy of YouTube

Opinion

BY MICHAEL HATFIELD

July 4, 2016

OTTAWA—A national vote is held on a controversial issue. The overall result is close with the winning side’s margin under four per cent. One large, populous region votes massively for the losing side. The vote is not legally binding. Can the government get away politically with not taking steps ...

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