Abstract

The paper examines some controversial questions about the on-going Brexit debate in the UK. Was Brexit the outcome of a ‘populist’ backlash? Was there a democratic majority for a ‘hard’ Brexit in the 2016 referendum and is there a case for a second referendum? The paper rejects the proposal for a second referendum and argues for an alternative strategy of a ‘gradual’ Brexit whereby the decision about exiting the EU is taken in stages by Parliament.

Dr Yiannis Kitromilides is an Associate Member of the Cambridge Centre for Economic and Public Policy, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge. He had previously taught at the University of Greenwich, University of Westminster, University of Middlesex, and at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. His main research interests include the eurozone crisis, ‘Brexit’ and the political economy of populism, technocracy and economic policymaking, nationalisation of banking and the shortcomings and limitations of deficit reduction policies. He has published in these areas in academic journals and contributed to edited books.