A second referendum could be organised in just 10 weeks, MPs told
Anti Brexit demonstrators outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA. - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
MPs being briefed on the practicalities of a second referendum have been told that it could technically be done within just 10 weeks of being signed off.
After formal approval from the Queen, it would take six weeks to register campaigners and approve official groups, followed by a month for campaigning, said Bob Posner, CEO of the Electoral Commission (EC), in a briefing to the Brexit Select Committee.
But while this is theoretically possible, it is far shorter than ideal, he said. Good practice "generally regarded in democracies across the world" is to allow a clear six months before holding a vote.
According to PA, Posner said: "Theoretically one could go from royal assent straight into that 10-week period to take you to polling day.
"But it has to be said in recent referendums that's not what happened and it's not felt practical for many reasons."
You may also want to watch:
He added: "In a perfect world one would say there's an electoral event coming up a clear six months before."
EC communications and research director Craig Westwood explained that time would be needed to assess whether voters understood the questions.
Most Read
- 1 Brexit regret: Meet the Leave voters who wish they hadn't voted Leave
- 2 Labour leader defends NHS after being kicked out of pub in Bath
- 3 Opposition parties push for probe into Boris Johnson's conduct following viral video
- 4 Scottish Tory leader accused of 'nonsense' excuse for Boris Johnson avoiding Scotland
- 5 Boris Johnson vows action over 'absurd' post-Brexit trading arrangements
- 6 ‘I should not have listened to Cameron’ – Former European Commission president
- 7 New research reveals half of Brexit supporters were not 'left behind' red-wall voters
- 8 Welsh government refused permission for legal challenge over post-Brexit bill
- 9 A chapter is over for Britain, for good or ill
- 10 Defence minister Johnny Mercer 'trying to resign' - reports
"From the last referendum as part of our feedback to the government and to parliament there was evidence that people didn't understand sufficiently what Leave meant," he said.
The EC advice will be of particular use to opposition parties who support a second referendum and will be looking to push for one on any deal Boris Johnson secures before the UK is scheduled to leave the EU on October 31.
Johnson, who is about to become prime minister, has committed to delivering Brexit by this date, and time becomes even tighter if he sends MPs away on recess until September 3, as he is expected to do on Friday.
This would leave just under two months for any attempt at organising a second referendum.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.