Why you want a Final Say: 25 comments from our petition for a second Brexit referendum

'I voted leave, but the handling of Brexit by both our own politicians and the EU side fails to represent me'

On Tuesday The Independent launched a campaign for a second referendum. Regardless of whether you voted Leave or Remain, we believe everyone deserves a Final Say on the Brexit deal. Our petition, at the time of writing, has over 180,000 signatures. Here are some of the reasons people gave for signing:

The consequences of the referendum have been reviewed and we as a nation are allowed to change our mind.
Deborah Phillips

We are getting sucked in to our own negativity. Why not just do a hard Brexit and then work with the outside world, EU and the rest, to build a better Britain in 20 years’ time?

I voted to leave completely and my desire has become stronger with the stance of the EU.
Stephen Kew

This is so important. Given that election rules were broken we need a proper say.
Megan Dalton

Like all British citizens living in other EU countries, I wasn’t allowed to vote in the referendum, whose effects are not yet known, not even to fortune tellers like Rees-Mogg.
Gordon Keitch

“Adequate food”
John Jewers

This is utterly ridiculous and needs a U-turn immediately. We’re about to cut the nose off our own face and I’m not okay with that!
Jennifer Barrow

I am a European and I want my children and grandchildren to have the same advantages, opportunities and benefits that belonging to the EU brings.
Jill Clarke

As we are linked by land and economics, Ireland will also be affected by Brexit...and I cannot see any way this effect will be a positive one.
Narayana Fritch

As a young person, Brexit would have a very bad/direct impact on my future.
Isabelle Banks

Not that it would make any difference to Scotland! We’d still have to go with what England decides...just hanging onto hope that sense will prevail this time around.
Debi Hedderwick

Although in principle against a second referendum it’s also not possible to push through a legitimate deal via current processes without completely ruining this country’s economy.
Julie Arnold

As someone who grew up among the ruins of WW2, I believe that the EU, for all its faults, is better than the alternative. The Brexit extremists are pushing for a race to the bottom for worker’s rights and conditions, and have already shown themselves to be untrustworthy. Let’s take back control!
Allan Grimley

Scotland said no to Brexit in 2016, and that is still the people’s will.
John Gordon

As a translator who lived for many years in Germany and has a second home in Spain I feel I am a European. Also I feel a lot of the vote was a “protest vote” and even many Leave voters didn’t expect the result we got.
Helen Robertson

I would like a second referendum as it’s taking too long for a decision.
Nina Patel

We now know more about what the whole Brexit things means and I for one have changed my mind.
Judi Little

I’m an EU resident in the UK who believes a no deal would be bad for both sides.
Gines Ortin

The principals (on all sides) have made a complete pigs-ear of the whole thing. I voted leave, but the handling of Brexit by both our own politicians and the EU side fails to represent me, and the reasons I voted the way I did. They cannot be trusted! So let us vote again – with very clear options on the paper.
Barry Teal

I am British but I live in Ireland. I was denied a vote in the last referendum. I would like the next referendum to include all British people.
Andrew Bowden

Everyone voted on lies let’s have the opportunity to put it right.
Sue Causton

Even if Brexit was a good idea we have no sensible, competent negotiators.
Peter Scott

Whether you voted for or against staying in the EU, it’s vitally important for the people to get a say in the ultimate deal. Nobody who voted to leave had any real consensus about what Brexit should entail as has been evidenced by the inability of the government to agree about what they should be negotiating for. The public needs to have the final say – it’s their future on the line!
Janine Roberts

I have absolutely no faith in the current Brexit negotiators. The probable outcome is far from what I voted for in the referendum.
Mike Wise

The Brexiteers would win another vote hands down now they know how evil, corrupt and crumbling the EU really is.
John Jackson

Why would we throw this country into turmoil for generations to come, off the back of a yes/no vote where the public were lied to?

The politicians have proved again and again that they have no idea how to solve this. Now that the facts and difficulties of leaving the EU have come to light since the referendum, the people of this country should be given a vote, now that they are more informed of facts rather than lies.
Sue Clarke