Ian McEwan
'...Consider instead the magic dust. How did a matter of such momentous
constitutional, economic and cultural consequence come to be settled by a
first-past-the-post vote and not by a super-majority? A parliamentary
paper (see Briefing 07212)
at the time of the 2015 Referendum Act hinted at the reason: because
the referendum was merely advisory. It “enables the electorate to voice
an opinion”. How did “advisory” morph into “binding”? By that blinding
dust thrown in our eyes from right and left by populist hands.'
'Nearly two-thirds of the electorate did not vote to leave; most of
business and the trade unions, agriculture, science, finance and the
arts were against the Brexit project; three-quarters of MPs voted to
remain. But our representatives ignored the evident public interest and
shrank behind party cabals and “the people have spoken” – that bleak
Soviet locution – followed by “get Brexit done”, the mind-clouding magic
dust which has blinded reason and diminished our children’s prospects.'
The Guardian
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