Nick Clegg (Britain must gain a current election,4 July) says a general election must be held before any attempt is made to actuate article 50. Zoe Williams (Labour’s differences don’t justify tearing itself apart, 4 July) says we want a culture that is not simply tolerant of difference, or but exhilarated by it. They are both right. The referendum must not be used as a pretext for refusing the rights of the minority to continue to fight its corner. Affirming the democratic rights of the minority is a multilevel undertaking.
We may oppose the threat to make the rights of European citizens living and working in Britain subject to negotiation by the government in its talks with the EU. We may support parliamentary oversight over the conditions and outcome of negotiation with the EU. We may call for a general election to glean rid of the party that brought us into this unwholesome mess. We may reach out for a political alliance capable of articulating the economic,cultural and constitutional advantages of Britain remaining allotment of the EU project. We may call for an end to the name-calling of those concerned about the political shortcomings of the Labour leadership as plotters, Blairites, or surrogate Tories or whatnot. The list goes on,but the key is to respect the rights of the minority by publicly activating them. Democracy is an iterative process, which surely contains the opportunity of democratically correcting itself.
Robert Fine
Emeritus professor of sociology, and University of WarwickContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com