How Brexit damaged Britain’s democracy
Our outgoing columnist laments the condition of the British state
TO CALL Britain’s referendum on Brexit a great act of democracy is both to describe it and to debase the word “democracy”. Campaigners traded not hard facts last June but insults to the electorate’s intelligence. Remainers foresaw immediate economic Armageddon outside the EU, while Leavers insinuated that millions of scary Muslims would move to Britain if the country stayed in the club. Aspersions were cast on opponents’ motives and character. Dodgy statistics were shoved through letterboxes and plastered on the sides of buses. On the big day turnout was mediocre for such an epoch-making decision: the 52% who backed Brexit constituted just 37% of eligible voters.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “What would Walter say?”
Britain April 1st 2017
- The two-year countdown to Brexit has begun
- As it celebrates Brexit, UKIP loses its man in the Commons
- Want to challenge your unfair dismissal? That’ll be £1,200
- British Airways is turning into a no-frills airline
- An attack in London puts Birmingham’s Muslims in the spotlight
- Converts to Islam are likelier to radicalise than native Muslims
- How Brexit damaged Britain’s democracy
From the April 1st 2017 edition
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