Possible 2nd Brexit Referendum May Be Problematic, Yet Least Bad Option - NGO

A possible second referendum on the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union would be a problematic option but also the least consequential one currently available, the director of the non-governmental organization UK in a Changing Europe, Anand Menon, told Sputnik on Tuesday

LONDON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2019) A possible second referendum on the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union would be a problematic option but also the least consequential one currently available, the director of the non-governmental organization UK in a Changing Europe, Anand Menon, told Sputnik on Tuesday.

Earlier in January, the UK House of Commons rejected the Brexit plan presented by Prime Minister Theresa May, which had long been negotiated with the European Union, thus increasing the risk the United Kingdom leaving the European Union without a mutual deal. Afterward, dozens of business leaders called on May and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn to support another referendum on Brexit.

"We live in a world where it might yet be the case that a referendum ends up being the least bad of the options we face, but let's be under no illusions that it would be a very, very problematic thing to do," Menon said.

At the same time, he pointed out that a potential second referendum would be accompanied by several problems and risks.

"My fear about a second referendum is that it hammers faith in our political system, because for Leavers, many of whom were persuaded to vote for the first time in many, many years .

.. because of the referendum ... the notion that they should do it again would be anathema," Menon said.

According to the NGO's director, a second referendum may result in no significant victory for either side and and instead spark further heated debates on the issue.

"It might not settle anything because if, for instance, you ended up with an outcome that was fifty-one forty-nine the other way with a turn out that was lower than 2016, that wouldn't be the end of the story," Menon noted.

At the same time, he added that the decision to hold a second referendum was unlikely to result in some kind of civil disorder and riots.

"I don't necessarily buy the idea that there's going to be rioting and stuff, and I don't really think the fear of rioting should be a reason for not doing something. I think our democratic system is better than that," Menon noted.

May has already rejected calls for a second referendum, pointing out that the United Kingdom should not delay its withdrawal from the European Union. The country is expected to leave the bloc on March 29.