This petition was submitted during the 2015–2017 Conservative government
Petition We want the government to explain why there was no threshold in the Referendum
TU strike ballots and countries voting on constitutional matters set a 2/3 majority for change. It's inconceivable this didn't have one.Was it because it was advisory, a purely consultative exercise not binding on this or any other government or was it just a careless,omission?
More details
The narrow Leave majority of 52% represents only 37% of the electorate. Important groups affected by it were not allowed to vote e.g. 16-18 year olds. This is too small to be a government mandate to leave the EU with the dire economic consequences already seen. The MPs Code of Conduct obliges them to do what is best for the NATION i.e. Scotland, NI, Wales and England.If a deal which is more favourable to the whole of the UK than EU membership cannot be reached, MPs must vote not to leave.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 27 February 2017
It was decided by the Government, and approved by an Act of Parliament, that the referendum would be a simple majority vote. The Government was clear it would honour the result.
Read the response in full
It was agreed that the referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union would not have a threshold, but would be a simple majority vote. Both Houses of Parliament passed the EU Referendum Act, which approved this decision, with large majorities and cross-party support.
On 23 June 2016, the people of the UK gave the clear instruction that they wanted the UK to leave the EU, and it is the duty of the Government to make sure we do just that. The Government was clear in the run up to the referendum that it would honour the result, whatever the outcome. So this Government is now fully engaged in fulfilling that mandate to leave the EU.
The people have spoken in the referendum offered to them by this Government and confirmed by Parliament, and we expect Parliament to deliver on this. There must be no attempt to delay, frustrate or thwart the will of the British people.
The Government is committed to delivering an exit that is in the best interests of the whole of the UK, however, the Government is equally clear that no deal for the UK is better than a bad deal for the UK.
Department for Exiting the European Union