London: After Britain voted to leave European Union, more than a million people have signed a fresh petition demanding a second EU referendum. It has more signatures than any other on the parliamentary website and as it has passed 100,000, Parliament will consider it for a debate.
David Cameron has previously said there will be no second referendum. The petition’s website states it was set up by an individual called William Oliver Healey, and says: “We the undersigned call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the Remain or Leave vote is less than 60%, based on a turnout less than 75%, there should be another referendum.”
The UK voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48% in Thursday’s referendum but the majority of voters in London, Scotland and Northern Ireland backed Remain. A debate in Parliament is a good way to raise the profile of an issue with law makers but it does not automatically follow that there will be a change in the law.