Why the people, not Theresa May, must have the final say on Brexit
The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, also known as the Great Repeal Bill, intends to mainly not only legally withdraw Britain from the EU but also bring existing EU legislation into the British statute books.
However, there is a major flaw with this bill-"Henry VIII" clauses that allow government ministers, and especially Theresa May herself, to use secondary legislation to change and delete those laws without any parliamentary oversight. This, alongside a proposed bill of would-be Prime Minister Andrea Leadsom which would allow the governing party to dominate select committees even without said governing party having an overall majority (the current case in the UK, of course), constitutes a major power grab that could see critical rights lost through Brexit, especially those of EU citizens living in Britain, and even those rights not strictly connected with EU membership. They intend to do more than just bring EU law into British law. This bill also exposes the need for Britain to have a written, formal constitution which can guarantee basic rights and freedoms through successive parliaments like other European countries.
Even many of those still committed to Brexit do not want a 'hard Brexit' but rather the same relationship with the EU Norway and Switzerland have, and want freedom of movement to be maintained in some form. Many of those who once supported Brexit no longer do so having seen the disastrous effects it will have on Britain socio-economically, and having realised what they were really voting for. In any case, since the people not Parliament voted for Brexit, they should make the final decision on what exactly happens. Brexit is not an excuse to bypass democracy, especially when it came about through a referendum in which every British citizen-not just their MPs-could vote. If that means a second referendum must take place, then so it must be.
However, there is a major flaw with this bill-"Henry VIII" clauses that allow government ministers, and especially Theresa May herself, to use secondary legislation to change and delete those laws without any parliamentary oversight. This, alongside a proposed bill of would-be Prime Minister Andrea Leadsom which would allow the governing party to dominate select committees even without said governing party having an overall majority (the current case in the UK, of course), constitutes a major power grab that could see critical rights lost through Brexit, especially those of EU citizens living in Britain, and even those rights not strictly connected with EU membership. They intend to do more than just bring EU law into British law. This bill also exposes the need for Britain to have a written, formal constitution which can guarantee basic rights and freedoms through successive parliaments like other European countries.
Even many of those still committed to Brexit do not want a 'hard Brexit' but rather the same relationship with the EU Norway and Switzerland have, and want freedom of movement to be maintained in some form. Many of those who once supported Brexit no longer do so having seen the disastrous effects it will have on Britain socio-economically, and having realised what they were really voting for. In any case, since the people not Parliament voted for Brexit, they should make the final decision on what exactly happens. Brexit is not an excuse to bypass democracy, especially when it came about through a referendum in which every British citizen-not just their MPs-could vote. If that means a second referendum must take place, then so it must be.
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