[ExI] brexit quick question

[Anders]

In Sweden there has been six referendums. Of these, the results of three 
or four have been overruled. The prohibition referendum in 1922 rejected 
prohibition, but a very strict alcohol policy was enacted. The 1955 
referendum on changing to right-hand traffic was against switching, but 
in 1967 a switch was made anyway. The pensions system referendum 1957 is 
disputed: alternative 1 got the most votes (and was enacted) but was a 
minority compared to 2 & 3. The nuclear power referendum 1980 led to the 
outcome that nuclear power would be phased out by 2010; this has not 
happened, although technically it was just a decision to phase it out as 
early as economically feasible.

The point here is that often politics allow a fair bit of leeway in 
interpreting the result, especially if there is plenty of time.

In the UK there is a legal challenge underway arguing that brexit has to 
be an act of parliament (where the MPs are mostly against it); whether 
this can fly depends on complex issues of constitutional law.


-- 
Dr Anders Sandberg
Future of Humanity Institute
Oxford Martin School
Oxford University