Today thousands of people gathered in Central London to protest against the referendum decision to leave the EU. My first thoughts were “what’s the point?” The Conservatives, including David Cameron and all the Conservative prospective leaders have already expressed their willingness to implement the referendum outcome and start proceedings to leave the EU. Seriously, what is the point of the March?
I listened to one of the march organisers attempt to explain the point of the protest, but in my opinion failed to truly constructively explain why the march was needed and what he hoped the outcome of the march would be, without contradicting himself and being hypocritical. Here was someone engaging with a democratic activity (as in, taking part in a march/protest) calling on the government not to act on the will of the people. He explained that we do not live in a direct democracy and the government does not have to listen and should take a vote in Parliament to go against the referendum result for ‘the good of the nation’.
When pressed further on considering the 17 million votes to leave the EU, he did explain that yes, we should deal with their concerns, but still not leave the EU.
Had this been the other way round and the referendum outcome was to remain in the EU, but the government decided to leave and people protested to leave the EU, would he be counting on the argument that we live in a democracy and the government should listen to the people?
I throw this question out to you, is there a point to today’s march? Should we be focusing on what brexit should look like to please everyone? Or should those who wish to remain in the EU continue to campaign to remain in the EU?
Brexit Talk 