Former Lib Dem Leader Lord Ashdown is backing a new campaign called More United which favours a second referendum on EU membership.
“If we get the opportunity to vote again on the EU we would vote to go back in to support it,” he says.
This is puzzling.
On the night of the EU referendum result, Ashdown told the ITV results programme: “I will forgive no one who does not the sovereign voice of the British people once it is spoken whether it is majority of one per per cent or 20%:
He continued: “It is our duty as those who serve the public to make sure the country does the best it can with the decision they have taken. In. Out. When the British people have spoken you do what they command.
“Either you believe in democracy or you don’t. When democracy speaks we obey. All of us do. If you put the nation first you make the best use with the decision you have got.
“Any people who retreat into ‘we’re coming back for second one’ – they don’t believe in democracy.
Join us: https://t.co/2E0S6ijCCz pic.twitter.com/njd6Ubf2IA
— Paddy Ashdown (@paddyashdown) August 5, 2016
“Anyone who says ‘I’m disappointed, I’m going to fight against this’ – that is an abjugation of the very thing we stand for. You can not run a democratic system unless people accept the democratic judgment and then put the national interest first.”
His view could scarcely have been more empathetic. Yet within a few weeks he started a campaign for tactical voting at the next General Election for those who will back a second referendum.
It’s not the first or the last U-turn in politics. But for its speed and shamelessness it takes some beating.
