My theory on the Brexit trouble as a Canadian is that David Cameron screwed up this system by trying to emulate other systems: he made fixed elections dates and used a referendum.
Both broke parliamentary tradition. Normally, if a govt loses on a matter of confidence, there would be an election. Instead Teresa May’s zombie govt lost and lost and lost and still kept going.
Meanwhile the parliament was beholden to a referendum result, which has no precedent in British tradition.
Further, it was nonsensical to hold a referendum to do something you do not want to do. Normally the way referenda are used elsewhere is to test popular support for a policy the govt actually wants to do.
Both broke parliamentary tradition. Normally, if a govt loses on a matter of confidence, there would be an election. Instead Teresa May’s zombie govt lost and lost and lost and still kept going.
Meanwhile the parliament was beholden to a referendum result, which has no precedent in British tradition.
Further, it was nonsensical to hold a referendum to do something you do not want to do. Normally the way referenda are used elsewhere is to test popular support for a policy the govt actually wants to do.