"I'll vote Remain because Michael Gove will resign if they win."

[WalrusGumboot]

So many people on social media have made reference to public figures that I'm wondering how much actual thought is going into their decision. Eg. Michael Gove will resign if Remain win or some other politician says this so I'll go the other way just to spite them.

This decision will outlast the current government and many of the people on both sides of the campaign. I do worry that people are being short sighted. Sure the same thing happens at election time but at least that's only a relatively short term decision.

Compared to seeing Gove resign I'll raise you merely seeing Blair, Mandelson, Brown or Major's face if we vote to leave. :D

They might look as though they'll care, but it will open up lots to f money making opportunities for them. Not so much for the poor bastards who voted for leave though go.

I was about to disagree with the OP - but realised you were quoting the 'hard of thinking'
so I agree

It's a shame this campaign has been all about personalities, not issues. People voting one way or the other to spite Messrs Cameron, Johnson, Gove, etc. It looks like the habits for general elections are well-established on both sides: the politicians do the campaigning to make their opponents look stupid, rather than focussing on the issues; and people vote thinking mostly about who they want to see fall.

Voting one way or the other based on dislike of one or more politicians is the very definition of cutting off your nose to spite your face. This is a decision that will affect you, your family, your job, your access to healthcare and public services, your family's opportunitues - for decades. Make your decision based on what's best for you, them, and the people who matter to you. They could be affected long, long after anyone even remembers who these people were.

And I say that as someone who frickin' hates Gove.

Don't get me wrong I can see how Gove resigning would be a very tempting carrot! But, it shouldn't be a reason to vote one way or the other.

mollie. It's scarily frequent on my Facebook...

I used to love Gove on Newsnight Review. Then I hated him as Education Minister. Now I love him for being so calm and measured in interviews. We have a very tempestuous relationship.

Silly way to decide, but in any case, I reckon it'd be just like Farage's resignation. In or out, there will still be a gravy train to ride on.

Surely people are just sharing that meme as a bit of a joke? I thought it was quite funny, and would be a nice bonus for remaining - but you can laugh and agree with it and sort of say in a mock way that it's made your decision, without actually being swayed one way or the other by it. I'm sure it's people who've already decided to stay who are sharing it! I can't really imagine people making their decisions based on things like that.

I've seen the Gove thing on FB also. There's also a similar one saying that if the result is Leave, Cameron will have to step down. How true that is I don't know, but I can see why it appeals to some voters!

I know so many people who still haven't decided which way to vote as they can see positives and negatives of both scenarios. Add to that the huge uncertainty of no-one actually knowing what will happen in the future - with or without EU membership and I'm guessing there are going to be a lot of people ultimately making a decision tomorrow based on something pretty superficial. Such as "well I don't like Gove so I'll go against him and vote to remain" or "I want to see if Cameron does step down so I'll vote to leave".

I honestly don't know which way it's going to go. Remain I think - I'm suspecting when it comes to it people won't risk the change and uncertainty that leaving the EU would bring.

It's surely a notch up from voting to stay because that's what David Beckham said?

Gove will be the next PM if we vote leave. I think above all he has been forthright and dignified through all of the crap being sling about during the campaign.

Sadie Khan pissed me off last night, you could hear him audibly laughing over the leave delegates who I thought put their case quite succinctly.

He was crap as education secretary but teachers will hate anyone telling them what to do or that things have to change anyway.

I don't think we should be voting on whether someone would or would not resign (particularly Cameron as I don't think he's got long left anyway and I think he'll be relieved)

We are voting on something that could have implications for centuries