The problem here is that “Respect Democracy” Remainers are disrespecting democracy.
Respecting democracy means giving the people a voice. Instead, the single vote on Brexit is now used to silence other voices. Anyone who points out things that are fundamentally true (Referendum was advisory, misinformation was rife, people are not remotely prepared for the consequences) is accused of “disrespecting democracy”.
Basically, there are two types of referendum: those that are used as a check on executive overreach (the Swiss style), and those that enable executive overreach where the normal systems cannot operate (the UK style)
The advantage of the former is that, being checks, they are fundamentally democratic. They prevent a government from carrying out an action against the will of its people, but do not prevent the government from proposing an altered version of the deal at another time.
The latter, however, are potentially dangerously anti-democratic, especially when an issue is particularly divisive, complex or radical.
Effectively, Owen is now anxiously trying to defend the greatest executive power grab away from Parliament since the English Civil War as being “for democracy”. And justifying it with “Well, people voted for it”.
Which is fine. But a party with such a cavalier attitude towards democratic norms probably won’t be getting my vote next time.
