NOVANEWS
Public opinion shifting strongly against a Brexit could justify a second referendum, former Attorney General Dominic Grieve says.
In correspondence seen by the Independent, Grieve told a constituent the result of the first referendum had to be “treated with respect” but that a second vote could become democratically justifiable.
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“We have to accept … that the referendum result represents, at the time it was held, a clear statement of the majority view that we should leave the EU,” wrote the Conservative MP, who was the government’s chief legal advisor until 2014.
“In a democracy such a result cannot be ignored. The government and Parliament must treat it with respect.
“It is of course possible that it will become apparent with the passage of time that public opinion has shifted on the matter. If so a second referendum may be justified.”
Grieve also urges the constituent to keep campaigning against Brexit.
“There is in a free society no requirement for us to change our opinions just because a current majority disagrees with them. Mine remain the same and I will continue to argue for what I believe is right and in our best interests.”
The comments come after research suggested 1.2 million ‘Leave’ voters regret their decision.
The survey by Opinium, which accurately predicted the EU referendum result, was conducted after widespread anecdotal social media reports of people saying they only voted to leave the EU as a protest and now regretted doing so.
