Having previously advocated a second referendum on the Brexit deal, it is gratifying to see growing support for the idea; yet something concerns me: enthusiasts for a second referendum seem more concerned with overturning the 2016 vote than with achieving a democratic outcome. We should be clear: a second vote may confirm Brexit: not to acknowledge this discredits those who call for such a vote.
But what of the lies that we were told? The problem of the Irish border? The threats to our prosperity? As a remainer, I naturally have concerns on all of these points, and continue to be unconvinced by the Brexiteer arguments; and yet I would be lying if I pretended to truly understand the complexities of our current impasse .
In a recent Hardtalk interview, Yanis Varoufakis, with reference to Brexit, observed: “This is a confusing issue. If you’re not confused when you’re facing a confusing issue, you are fanatical.”
The call for a second referendum must reject fanaticism, embrace democracy, and be prepared to leave the EU with good grace.
Carruchan 
Agreed!
I am constantly confused, I admit, but as much by the rhetoric as by that which remains unexplained, viz: the ins and outs of the negotiation itself. As if the latter were not enough. The rehetoric makes great play of “the will of the people”. The stated wish of pro-Brexit politicians is to honour this “will of the people”, and not to be bogged down with “asking them again until they get the answer right.” Of course, it does rather heavily depend on what it is that you ask them, but I have news for those same politicians – if there is to be a second referendum based on what we all know now, and what will have been negotiated by then, what is expressed will be the will of the very same people, those whose views you claim to be desperate to honour. After all, when a general election is called, you don’t hear cries of “We have already asked the people, 5 years ago! We don’t need to ask them again – the will of the people must be honoured!” And each general election is a decision lasting no more than 5 years. The Brexit decision is a one-off, that will last for – probably – generations. The least we can do is to ensure that when we quote the will of the people, our quote is current, and not 2 years old. Opinions might not have changed. But they might have…