So you think in some way you're punishing the EU? Thats simply pyrrhic self harm.

@Flettie

The EU is punishing the working class by making them poorer whilst making the rich richer.

@Ellatynemouth ...and leaving the EU will help the poorest in the UK? We just throw ourselves on the mercy of the Tories? I'm not convinced of their philanthropic credentials. #foodbanks

@Ellatynemouth Where is your evidence?

I didn't answer the question of a further referendum. I actually don’t like referenda as they rarely explain in great enough detail the consequences of saying yes or no. I think in this case once the final deal is known to us Parliament should vote on it, as we are a parliamentary democracy and that is why we elect M.P.s. I agree in this instance with Dominic Grieve who has been trying to ensure that we don’t crash out with no deal. An option some of his Tory colleagues want. I don’t think we can ban anyone from voting even if they lack knowledge and logic...that would eliminate a large swathe of the electorate!

So true!

@Paul_Clamberer Give me a like then!

@Paul_Clamberer Thanks!

My theory is that most of Westminster actually wants Brexit. It wants full legal control of the UK, without any responsibility towards the EU, its laws and its courts. It favours the wealthy, with the EU standing up for workers' rights, clamping down on tax evasion etc. MP's are typically pretty well off, financially.

However, the politicians know that leaving is going to be massively painful to endure for the people who vote for them. That it's going to trash the economy and the exchange rate, simultaneously putting up the cost of living for the average individual, and threatening their ability to earn money to pay for it. But what if they hand you a referendum result on a silver platter that makes them rather than you responsible for their suffering, because they voted for it?

It's only in this context that the marginal result of an advisory referendum could carry such weight. The one thing in politics that we're never allowed to turn back on. We have a General Election every 5 years, because sometimes people change their minds about who wants to run the country. But we can't have a second referendum. That wouldn't be democratic.

@NicoleCadmium I agree, the wealthy will remain wealthy whatever happens and the poor will get poorer. This government has been the worst for ordinary people since Thatcher - probably worse than Thatcher because of the way they have been systematically selling off the NHS. Once we get this government out - and I have faith that we will - it will take a long time and hard work to get things back under control. The one thing that gives me hope is that young people are now much more interested in what is happening than they were over the past twenty years or so.

@CeliaVL I worry greatly about the opposition at the moment too. All Corbyn needs to do is hang on to the labour leadership whilst Brexit inevitably causes the UK harm under Tory guidance, and the ensuing wave of anti-Tory sentiment will drive voters into his arms. If he truly cared about the country he'd take a far stronger position on Brexit now, but that would soften it's blow and cost him future votes; he's as selfishly career minded as anybody in high politics right now and so we will all suffer.

@Rufus_Maximus I don't agree that that is Jeremy Corbyn's position. A team of Labour politicians and advisors have been having parallel talks with the EU so that Labour will be in a good position to agree a quick deal which fulfills Labour's demands, if this government falls. Of course he cares about future votes. He wants to get a Labour government in to put an end to the carnage this government is wreaking among the less well off. The NHS, education, housing, and welfare are far more important than Brexit.

@CeliaVL I see your point, however the EU funds the NHS heavily via Horizon bids, at the last capitation we got 6.5billion just for that. Brexit feeds directly into the problems that health and welfare face in this country.

@NicoleCadmium Exactly why is a second referendum undemocratic?. Are we not allowed to change our minds when more evidence comes along?

My understanding has always been that the referendum IS advisory.

@Mcflewster The trouble with a second referendum is that if it is still close but maybe goes the other way, then people will still complain. You can't keep having votes until you get the result you want.

@CeliaVL Trouble really was that the first referendum was badly timed, explained, planned and not limited to a wider winning difference say 60 :40 which is the norm for CONSTITUTIONAL changes like this one. We need to admit our mistakes and have second educated attempt as opposed to a hurried unthinking one. The initial vote did justify the need to fully and seriously investigate the consequences of everything and we are nearly there in this respect. I would sign the voting paper to say no more votes after this one for 20years , but why would not you?

I'm fresh out of Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. No foreigners means: I would have left in a body bag, not a taxi.