The calls for a second referendum are starting to grow and if Labour are backing the idea there's a chance we might get one. What is noticeable is the resistance to it from leavers and Brexiteers. Liz Truss says it would "trigger a massive crisis" (HERE) and BoJo thinks it would "unleash anger" (HERE). Why this should be so isn't obvious to me. The Irish had a second referendum on the Nice Treaty in 2002 and again on the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. Denmark had a second referendum on the Maastricht treaty in 1993. None sparked a massive crisis or unleashed anger as far as I know.
What is special about the UK? What is it about our national character that sends us into paroxysms of fury if we are asked the same question twice? In any case it will hardly be a repeat of 2016, more of a confirmation now that we all know far more about Brexit than we did during the campaign.
There seems to be an illogical position among the Brexiteers that it's better to vote in ignorance and not have second thoughts than it is to reconsider something when it's clear it wasn't what you wanted. Perhaps it's connected with our famous reticence to complain or send food back in a restaurant when it's not properly cooked or prepared or you simply don't like it. Better to eat something that you think will make you ill than to admit you made a mistake.
Secondly, Brexiteers always knew they could never get Brexit through parliament. This is why they needed to force a referendum in the first place and why they extracted a commitment from Cameron to hold the vote when he became leader. A commitment he couldn't avoid when he won the 2015 election with a majority. But now, when the same problem arises and they can't get the Withdrawal Agreement passed in the House, you would think they're itching to bypass parliament and take it to the country again, but no. It would cause a 'massive crisis'.
In truth the only crisis would be in the ERG.
It doesn't make sense does it? If Brexit really was the will of the people, holding a second vote to confirm it would be done in a heartbeat. It's only the fear that it will be lost amid the certain knowledge that the polls are turning against Brexit that prevents us getting a vote.
