tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026206080954518407.post5851285582619155233..comments2022-12-05T13:43:34.238-08:00Comments on Pedryn Drycin: The Moral Imperative of a Second EU ReferendumPedryn Drycinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529524938002180510noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026206080954518407.post-38333179077237795932016-09-22T05:41:38.134-07:002016-09-22T05:41:38.134-07:00And as I said in the post, it is not enough to say...And as I said in the post, it is not enough to say, 'you told us to do SOMETHING, so you must accept ANYTHING we give you'. That is technically possible in our constitution, but it is morally defective and is unsustainable in the long-term.Pedryn Drycinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14529524938002180510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026206080954518407.post-18804764667315737272016-09-22T05:33:55.210-07:002016-09-22T05:33:55.210-07:00I wasn't really commenting here on how much ha...I wasn't really commenting here on how much harder or easier the case for Welsh independence is following UK exit from the EU (the institution) or the Single Market (the customs union, free trade area). That's for another day. But I do acknowledge that new 'difficulties' will be raised by opponents when those things happen. Rather, I was just stating for clarity that the EU referendum result has no bearing on the right of the Welsh people to have that debate and 'leave' the UK in the future should they wish to ('back' to the EU in full, as a member of the EEA, as a standalone state, or whatever).<br /><br />My argument in this post is that I don't think the UK Govt has a mandate to simply choose the 'alternative international status of the UK (its model of international cooperation)' carte blanche without reference to the people again. There is no defined binary opposite to 'leaving the EU (institution)' which can be taken as agreed to by the British people in June. And so to execute one choice in particular without recourse to a referendum or general election is to impose something without electoral mandate. <br /><br />Their mandate is to 'leave'. Fine. Draw up the possible alternatives of 'leaving' (and I accept that means excluding the 'stay' status quo option), and let the people decide which one they want (they are very, very different).<br /><br />If they don't do that, the legitimacy of the new model will be compromised for generations. Someone will always be able to say...'we never voted for this'. Because we didn't. We affirmed a negative, not a positive.Pedryn Drycinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14529524938002180510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026206080954518407.post-44867430237102686932016-09-22T04:31:43.672-07:002016-09-22T04:31:43.672-07:00"The people of Wales have a permanent and con..."The people of Wales have a permanent and continuous right to change the nature of their relationship with the UK (and other countries) should they choose emocratically to do so. The EU referendum result in Wales in June does not change that in any way". <br /><br />You're right phil of course it doesnt change Wales right to full self government, but if hopes for welsh self government are bound up with full membership of the EU we have to accept that goal became that little bit harder after june 23rd. Personally i support the motion Adam Price tabled in the Senedd this week on membership of the single market but i think we have to accept it's not going to be easy in the future trying to persuade the tens of thousands who voted for brexit in places like the south wales valleys of the case for freedom of movement (freedom of movement being a key condition of EU and single market membership).<br /><br />Of course if life outside the EU will be as wonderful as the brexiteers have been telling us there is no reason why a self governing wales shouldnt enjoy the benefits of the economic nirvana which is apparently to be found outside the EU. Leigh Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10598475954140926742noreply@blogger.com