Britain in two minds

It’s been a crazy English summer. Within 24 hours of a referendum in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland throwing it out of the European Union, 1.5 million Britons have suddenly decided that they need a second referendum to make sure they got it right the first time. The petition’s argument is that the vote to leave, or Brexit, was less than 60 per cent (it was 51.9 per cent) based on a turnout of less than 75 per cent (it was 72.2 per cent) and so is not truly representative of the country’s — well, four countries’ — wishes. Britain, being the mother of all Parliaments, will discuss it in its legislature because the petition has well over the required 100,000 signatures.

All this may suggest a touch of the sun, but it’s actually quite serious. The problem is that reports from the UK suggest that many of the voters didn’t really know what they were doing in a matter as serious as a national referendum. Many were blinded by nationalist sentiment and many didn’t even know what the EU was. A day later there are reports that many “Leave” voters, too, don’t want out. This is silly, but true. The EU, hurt, angry, and fearful for the future, now wants no delay in Britain’s exit. Talk of a second vote would drive Europe mad. But the English are a nation used to a second innings. If Britain must vote again, it must be now, while the ink is still fresh on the first ballot. Or it must get out. Dilly-dallying will only cause immeasurable economic hardship to Europe, and to Britain herself.