First came the Scottish referendum, then the Brexit referendum; then come the shadows of two future referenda – a second Scottish referendum, and a second referendum that some are asking for on the terms of Brexit. It is perhaps to head of the two possible future referenda that the Prime Minister has called a snap general election for June 8. That way it can all be settled then – at least in theory.
If Mrs May wins a handsome majority, and it looks that she may well do at present, 21 per cent ahead in the polls as her party currently is, then the Brexit question is definitively settled. Brexit will mean whatever she wants it to mean: she will have the mandate of the people, and no one will be able to argue with that. The only drawback with this strategy is that Mrs May will have to tell the electorate just what she is planning, and she has so far been loath to do so – and with some reason: why give away your negotiating strategy before negotiations begin?
