Opponents of a People’s Vote have been playing up the spectre of street violence in a bid to scare MPs and the public off supporting a new referendum. But a People’s Vote could help start a healing process. Rather than forecasting civil unrest, let’s focus on bringing together our divided country.
Though anything is possible, violence does not seem likely. Similar concerns were raised during the Scottish independence referendum and came to nought.
What’s more, the pro-Leave groups which would presumably be most enraged by a reversal of Brexit are dismissing the warnings. Nigel Farage wrote off the idea in typical eurosceptic fashion, telling ITV’s Robert Peston yesterday: “We’re not French.” The former Ukip leader explained people wouldn’t need to take to the streets as long as they had “a political vehicle to get behind” – which, one presumes, he will be providing.
And yet Theresa May stood in the Commons on Monday and warned a new vote would “damage social cohesion”, although the government later denied that she was alluding to riots. Meanwhile, The Sun ran an editorial last month warning that a “tsunami of rage” would be unleashed if Brexit were “stolen”. “Do you think Brits are too reserved for civil disorder?” the newspaper asked, invoking past riots and the murder of MP Jo Cox.
Less sensationally, William Hague said a new referendum would be the “most bitter and divisive event in our modern history, complete with unbridled anger, accusations of betrayal, harrowing doubt and distraction”. Yet in the same column, the former Tory leader conceded that a People’s Vote is now the most likely option. The logic of his position is that he should work with others to make sure his dire predictions are not fulfilled.
Part of the answer is to ensure that any campaign is respectful and civilised. Sure, there will be debates as rival arguments are tested – and it will be legitimate to point out any hypocrisy and dishonesty of those making them. But the different campaigns should not go in for vicious personal attacks which have nothing to do with Brexit.
Of course, one side may attack the other and people will then say: “You have to fight fire with fire.” But it will normally be better to fight fire with water.
Just as important will be for everybody, especially pro-Europeans, to show they have the will to fix our country’s real problems. People are angry for a reason. We haven’t invested in large parts of the country for decades; we haven’t given enough money to public services including the NHS; we haven’t integrated migrants well enough into our communities.
We will have more money to fix these problems if we have a strong economy. Our MPs will also have more time to focus on them if they are no longer squabbling about Brexit. If this argument is at the heart of a future referendum campaign, a People’s Vote will be part of the healing process.