To think that David Cameron should have to answer for what he's done?

[MsHooliesCardigan]

This is not about the rights and wrongs of leaving the EU but about accountability.
DC decided to hold the referendum for his own political ends, it wasn't because the electorate were all clamouring for it.
It was a far too complex question to be put to a simple Yes/No vote.
For a referendum to be legally binding, terms are set out beforehand about the minimum turnout and majority required which didn't happen so it was advisory but voters were told that it was binding.
And, most shockingly, absolutely NO plans were made as to what would happen if we voted to leave as DC was too arrogant to consider that he might actually lose. The whole shitstorm that is Brexit was released which almost undoubtedly played a part in Trump getting elected (I know there are lots of differences but there are definite similarities and DT himself referred to 'Brexit plus plus).
And the next day, Cameron just fucks off to write his memoirs and spend more time with his money family and leaves everyone else to pick up the pieces for the next 10 years or so.
Is he never going to be held to any kind of accountability for this?
FWIW, I voted Remain but after quite a bit of wavering and I have no issue with Leave voters. The point is that nobody voted for the fucking mess we've been left with.

Yes, that is a good idea re the manifesto promises being much more robustly and rigorously tested. How can it be that people can come along- make any kind of promises and then say later oh sorry we can't actually do this.

Oh Great, yet another lecturing remoaner drama llama thread.

cathaka, "that's the end of it"
Is it? How has it ended? We are in limbo as NOTHING was thought through

an awful lot of voters had no idea about the logistical complexities of actually leaving

Unfair to leavers - almost everyone, including most remainers, underestimated the complexities of leaving. That includes the PM and her chancellor (both remainers).

Well of course it wasnt going to be simple to leave. And it will take a long time. People may have underestimated but they really shouldn't have- particularly those like Cameron, Gove and Johnson who actually have some overview. I have no love at all for George Osborne but he got it. And he didn't resign, he was pushed out later.

a far more competent leader emerge in the form of TM.

I beg to differ - I think she is proving to be a disaster, because she is stubborn and inflexible. She is not the right person for the present turbulent times. She would be a steady enough, but rather unispired, person in a time of stability.

I don't think most people apart from the die hard Tory sceptics thought too much about the EU. My late DM was typical, e.g. with with price rises - it was all the fault of Decimalisation in the sixties, the Common Market in the Seventies, Maggie Thatcher in the eighties, Blair in the nineties/2000s...

para yet you opened it and even took the trouble to type out a meaningless comment that adds absolutely nothing.

In answer to your original question, no. Please, no hour long Paxman special. I'm just relieved to see the back of the big pasty faced millionaire twat, for all I care he can wear deck shoes and navy polo shirts and continue eating chips on the beach in Cornwall until he explodes. Now he's effed off, I never ever want to see him again.

Yes he did completely fuck it all up. Whether you were a remain or leave voter, it was a shambles from beginning to end. He had a mandate to do so though from the electorate.
He won't be held to account.
He doesn't give a shite. His money is safe.
He does want a peerage and a seat in the Lord's. I do hope he doesn't get that and remains Mr Cameron to the day he dies. That would probably annoy him more than an awkward hour with Paxman.

I am so sick of Brexit, I wish we just bloody leave already, or don't leave...whatever - just do something.

This sort of thing should be left to the politicians...that's what we hire them for! I'm pretty politically astute and research everything to the Nth degree. But I'm still not convinced I can make the right decision on this, it has such far reaching consequences.

Referenda I think 5. In the past referenda have always had set protocols...in the event of the result being as close as it was a revote is needed etc. None of these safeguards were in place because none of the fuckers thought it would be needed, even BoJo!

I am so sick of Brexit, I wish we just bloody leave already, or don't leave...whatever - just do something.

How politically sophisticated of you.

Not really I am glad he gave us the Referendum, it was the right thing to do and I am very glad he stepped aside to let a far more competent leader emerge in the form of TM.

I knew there would be a long while of uncertainty and 'mess', i guessed it would take a fair while for A50 to be triggered, i guessed DC would step down in light of an out vote.

I still to this day stand by my decision to vote leave, which after 16 years of researching and closely following the EU, i felt entitled to make.

I admire TM for stepping up, grabbing hold of something she didn't believe in and doing the right thing by fighting the court order in December.

Not so much on the topic of making DC 'answer', but my feeling is that the campaign (BOTH sides) was so dirty and messy and often based on peripheral issues and, well, lies, that some of the nitty-gritty procedural stuff wasn't as explored and aired as best as it could be - such as the actual status of the vote.

I do think that DC's government should be held accountable to that, but, to be fair, I don't think anyone asked the kinds of serious legal questions that should have been asked. That's quite embarrassing, really. Had the vote been to remain it would not have been an issue because it would have been the status quo. But it wasn't - so the current mess ensues.

It cuts deeper, though, becuase it is pretty clear that the EU don't really have mechanisms in place for major partners choosing to leave.

I mean really. Get your acts together guys! TBH it quite worries me that there is so much disorganisation and confusion on so many levels.

The next election will be interesting because I think there has been a fundamental lack of trust in the ability of all parties to rule.

If anyone needs to be held to account, I would have thought Tony Blair would be the first in line for the firing squad

Don't blameTony Blair for the Referendum debacle - Iraq, yes, which despite the Chilcot report he's got away with.

Line up Cameron, BoJo, Gove and Gisela Stuart and Farage for the Referendum. And for them all immediately reneging on what they were supposedly promising but weren't actually in a position to give. Except that BoJo is now in Government, but seems to be keeping a lowish profile.

I wholly agree with the OP. The way that this referendum was introduced and conducted was a farce. The complete lack of democratic process so that the law courts have to tell the government that parliamentary debate is needed is ridiculously embarassing internationally. The fact that neither side is showing the other side any respect for their decision is a sign of how poorly this referendum was carried out. David Cameron deserves to remembered by history as an absolute tosser. I remember a journalist telling a story of asking DC why he wanted to be PM and DC replying "because I'll be good at it". That shows what an arrogant arse he is and that he really didn't care about his country. Plus he was basically shit at it. But maybe I am biased as I geniuely hate the man.

If Blair hadn't allowed the immigration crisis to occur in the first place, there is no way the Brexit vote would have happened.

Haha ibelieve, you would struggle to blame TB for this one! There are plenty of others though as detailed above!

Every single govt in this country has struggled with immigration, and to be honest not really made a clear stance so don't even think about it Nathan. For years we have encouraged immigration but not put in place the infrastructure. Hence the grass roots discomfiture now. TB no more or less guilty than anyone else,

I don't think he should be held to account. UKIP would have risen without it, plus eurosceptics in both the conservative and labour parties. There would have been a referendum imo anyway.

And as a leave voter, I'm very glad we had the opportunity to vote.

He does want a peerage and a seat in the Lord's. I do hope he doesn't get that and remains Mr Cameron to the day he dies.

GiddyOnZackHunt You might get your wish. I read a piece which said there's a log jam on peerages for ex PMs because of Tony Blair.

Apparently the Queen doesn't like him, going back to The People's Princess business, so won't give him a peerage. But no one else can have one because that would make it too obvious which is a bit unfair on Gordon Brown who apparently is liked.

I can't remember what they said about Charles but apparently William doesn't like Blair for the same reason. I don't think he and Cherie were invited to the wedding, but I could be making that up.

No idea whether any of it is true but I like the idea of petty spats in high places

I think the argument that without this masterstroke of political cunning we would be faced with a powerful UKIP, is disingenuous.
UKIP have achieved everything they've wanted; we're leaving the EU, immigrants are being hassled on the street, Farage strutting the world stage like Roderick Spode. I imagine your typical 'kipper is pretty happy. Well, as happy as they ever are in their world of indignation and anger at outsiders.

I agree CockacidalManiac. It was a party management thing that wasn't even managed very well.