Local pressure may decide Brexit fate
THE push to give the public the final say on the Brexit deal is now backed by some of the highest profile figures in Welsh politics.
Candidates in the Labour and Plaid Cymru leadership races may well have calculated that people who will get to vote in their party elections are overwhelmingly proEU.
But that is not to doubt the strength of their convictions, and the passion with which they argue for a referendum could bring a new energy and urgency to the debate in Wales.
Meanwhile, Best for Britain is pointing to polling analysis indicating that of the 632 constituencies in England, Scotland and Wales 229 were Remain, and 403 Leave. It claims that 14 Welsh seats have shifted to remain.
Many if not most politicians will be acutely sensitive to the sentiment in their own constituency, and in their local party in particular. There are times when MPs and AMs will go against popular opinion on a point of principle, but canny politicians never forget that their democratic mandate can be snatched away by the voters at each election.
If there is intense public pressure for a vote and MPs in all parties are worried about their support, then we may see a real chance of a referendum. At present, Downing St has ruled it out and Jeremy Corbyn seems very unenthusiastic; diehard remainers will not be able to secure a socalled people’s vote on their own – there must be inescapable clamour for the opportunity to go to the polls.
If the UK Government did not change position, scores of Tory MPs would have to rebel to legislate for a public vote. That would only happen if the country was facing a truly catastrophic outcome from the Brexit process and they had good reason to expect voters would respect and support their actions.
Some MPs will have calculated that a general election is at least as likely an event; a contest that could culminate in Jeremy Corbyn in Downing St will delight some just as greatly as it will horrify others.
But it is imperative that politicians of all traditions remain focused on what is truly at stake across this country of nations.
Brexit has the potential to jeopardise family livelihoods and there is an incumbent responsibility on every elected representative to ensure that instability is minimised and unemployment does not return to savage this land.