Voters have right to change their minds

IT is surely significant that the latest polling evidence suggests a majority exists in all 40 Welsh constituencies for a People’s Vote.

What is also interesting is that even the 13 seats which would still vote Leave have a majority in favour of another referendum.

The results are quite remarkable given that they go against the official policy positions of the two main parties – even though there is evidence that an overwhelming proportion of Labour members and supporters back a People’s Vote.

This week, with the announced closure of the Schaeffler plant in Llanelli and the loss of 220 jobs, blamed in part on Brexit uncertainty, the stark reality of Brexit has had a tangible consequence. Regrettably, this is likely to be the first of many such announcements if Brexit goes ahead and the UK does not have unfettered access to the European Single Market.

Nobody who voted Leave in the 2016 referendum thought they were voting themselves out of a job, but sadly that will be the outcome if we have a bad Brexit.

The announcement of the Llanelli job losses provides additional ammunition for those who argue that a People’s Vote is essential. Operation Fear is becoming Operation Reality.

Few who voted Leave can have imagined that the process of resigning from the EU would be so complicated, or that it would have such negative consequences.

After all that has happened in the nearly two and a half years since the referendum, there is a powerful case for UK voters to have their say again. Holding another referendum would not be undemocratic, as alleged by those Leave voters who fear the result would be overturned. On the contrary – it would be acknowledging the right of people to change their minds in the light of more information that has come to light.

There is another strong argument for a People’s Vote. The decision to come out of the EU will have the greatest impact on younger people, many of whom were not old enough to participate in the 2016 referendum but will have to live with the consequences of its result. Polling evidence shows that a large majority of young people support staying in the EU and are appalled by the prospect of their ability to live, work and study in EU countries being curtailed. Sooner rather than later decisions will have to be taken in Parliament about the endgame of this sorry saga. MPs should have the courage to engineer a People’s Vote.