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Referendum facts

IN REPLY to Bill Williams’ dismissive remarks regarding Adam Poole’s opinion regarding the European “Disunion.”

He uses his MENSA test pass, presumably, as giving him the right to rubbish other’s opinions, etc.

I, too, passed the MENSA test some years ago, but that hasn’t made me unable to live in the real world, and to try to understand “real” issues.

If you have dogmatic opinions, you need to be able support them with reliable research information.

I have done quite a lot of research into the EU referendum and related issues. My findings are these:

1) During the run-up to the Referendum, the electorate were bombarded with a limited number of issues, mainly negative to the EU.

Other vital information, such as education, research, trade, industry, health services, the fight against terrorism, etc, were not often, if ever, put forward to the electorate.

So their voting decisions may have been based on inadequate information, and, with the information now emerging, they may want to change their voting choices.

2) According to the rules of national referendums, the results of a national referendum are only “advisory” to the government: it can ignore the result, if it chooses.

3) The Referendum results were too close to be regarded as a “clear mandate” to leave the EU.

The votes for Leave were 51.9 per cent of those voting: those to Stay were 48.1 per cent.

The difference of just 3.8 per cent between the Leave and Remain votes, cannot, in any stretch of the imagination, represent a “clear mandate” to go ahead with Brexit.

PAT NORMAN, Highworth

Learn bear’s lesson

PADDINGTON Bear is an inspiration so thanks for your tribute to his creator Michael Bond and well done for asking for more compassion and understanding for anyone who is homeless and needs a friend.

Kindness benefits everyone.

CATHY STAGG, Swindon

Get more involved

MAY I appeal for people to become more involved in politics in these uncertain times.

I refer to the decision of the Conservative Government to have a close arrangement with the DUP and suggest that people write to their MP explaining their take on the matter.

If that was to happen the MP might be able to advise the PM of the constituents’ views.

ROBERT HANNA, Waterside Park, Devizes

New columnist?

WHY doesn’t the Swindon Advertiser just give Bill Williams his own column in the paper and give others a chance of having their letters published? Just a thought.

RAY REEDER, Grailey Close, Swindon