Referendums Quotes

• Maybe this will be the beginning of a trend? Flat taxes, cutting foreign aid, a referendum on Europe, grammar schools. Who knows?

  Nigel Farage

  School, Cutting, Europe

  "Theresa May accused of lifting cat anecdote from Ukip leader" by Patrick Wintour, www.theguardian.com. October 7, 2011.

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• We have a Conservative leader that believes in green taxes, that won't bring back grammar schools, that believes in continuing with total open-door migration from eastern Europe and refuses to give us a referendum on the EU.

  Nigel Farage

  Believe, School, Doors

  "Conservative right calls for return to core values and end to 'barmy' policies" by Nicholas Watt, www.theguardian.com. May 4, 2012.

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• REFERENDUM, n. A law for submission of proposed legislation to a popular vote to learn the nonsensus of public opinion.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Learning, Popular Vote, Law

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.195, University of Georgia Press

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• In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

  George Orwell

  Inspirational, Inspiring, Wisdom

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• My main worry about referendums is that you are taking a very complicated political question that requires knowledge of a bunch of background facts in the social sciences and you're handing that question to people who don't know those facts and in fact, are systematically misinformed about them.

  Jason Brennan

  People, Worry, Political

  Source: www.cbc.ca

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• Initiative and referendum make government more responsive to its citizens, neutralize the power of the special interests and stimulate public involvement in state issues.

  George W. Bush

  Government, Issues, Special

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• Referendums are a democratic instrument, but so are decisions reached in a parliamentary democracy. I advise extreme caution when it comes to referendums. In Germany too.

  Martin Schulz

  Decision, Democracy, Germany

  Source: www.spiegel.de

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• I am logically in favour of a referendum. It would be the only legitimate way.

  Jacques Chirac

  Would Be, Way, Favour

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• If there are further steps to European integration, the people should have their say at a general election or in a referendum.

  Tony Blair

  Should Have, People, Steps

  Tony Blair (1997). “New Britain: My Vision of a Young Country”, Basic Books (AZ)

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• It is difficult to understand these people who democratically take part in elections and a referendum, but are then incapable of democratically accepting the will of the people.

  Jose Saramago

  People, Election, Accepting

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• We must put behind us the tribalism and divisions seen in the referendum between Leave and Remain and focus on defining our place in the world, healing our wonderful nation and putting core Conservative principles and values into action.

  Priti Patel

  Healing, Focus, Principles

  Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

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• Anyone who is a Palestinian citizen, whether Christian, Jewish or Muslim, should decide together in a very free referendum. There is no need for war. There is no need for threats or an atom bomb either.

  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

  Christian, War, Together

  "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: An Interview with Iran's Agitator". Interview with Scott Macleod, content.time.com. December 25, 2006.

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• If you are a Scot living outside of Scotland but still in the UK, you are not allowed to vote in the referendum. This leaves over a million of loyal, proud Scots disenfranchised. It gives me the rage.

  Damian Barr

  Scotland, Giving, Loyal

  Source: www.guernicamag.com

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• When we said that no more areas of power should go to the EU we were right. And now thanks to the European Union Act 2011, by law that cannot happen without a referendum. And we are just as right that the EU has more power in our national life than it should, and I believe as strongly as I ever have that when the right moment comes this party should set out to reduce it.

  William Hague

  Party, Believe, Law

  Conservative party conference, Manchester, www.theguardian.com. October 5, 2011.

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• I think referendums are fantastic as long as the question is phrased in a way which is not meant to deliberately confuse or confound people.

  Cate Blanchett

  Thinking, Long, People

  "Cate Blanchett talks to 7.30 about her new movie and marriage equality". "7.30" with Sabra Lane, www.abc.net.au. December 18, 2015.

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• Since populists never miss an opportunity to create a lot of noise about anti-Europe stance. However, the repercussions of the British referendum could quickly put a stop to such crass rabble-rousing, as it should soon become clear that the UK was better off inside the EU - economically, socially and in foreign policy terms.

  Jean-Claude Juncker

  Opportunity, Europe, Missing

  Source: www.businessinsider.com

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• Remember the referendum on the Charlottetown constitutional accord? The more Canada's political and business elites threatened Canadians that the country would disappear into a black hole if the accord weren't passed, the more Canadians opposed it.

  Preston Manning

  Country, Political, Black

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• It is a necessary precondition for the success of a referendum that there should be broad community consensus and bipartisan support for it.

  George Brandis

  Community, Support, Broads

  Source: www.abc.net.au

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• In the referendum - which was still decided to take place by the Crimea's old parliament - the majority of citizens voted for belonging to Russia. This is democracy, the people's will.

  Vladimir Putin

  Russia, People, Democracy

  Source: www.businessinsider.com

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• A defensive referendum is for avoiding war and to help keep the Taiwanese people free of fear.

  Chen Shui-bian

  War, People, Helping

  "Chen stands up to Bush". www.cnn.com. December 10, 2003.

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• Boycotting the referendum is a possible option ... because we believe that participating in the voting might be a useless act.

  Saleh al-Mutlaq

  Believe, Voting, Useless

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• I do a lot of referendums. They can't talk back. They don't have wives. They don't have friends who tell you how to run the campaign. They are supported by special interests, so there's a lot of money in them.

  Roger Stone

  Running, Wife, Special

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• I've repeated it 100 times and I'm going to look you in the eye, tonight, Mr. Couillard: there will be no referendum as long as Quebecers aren't ready.

  Philippe Couillard

  Eye, Long, Looks

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• We want all the Palestinians back in their homeland, and then there can be a fair referendum for people to choose the form of state they want. Whoever gets the majority can rule.

  Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

  People, Majority, Want

  "Iran's Leader Joins Large Anti-Israel March". Sermon during a Friday prayer, www.washingtonpost.com. October 29, 2005.

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• The Government have made it clear that the constitutional treaty will be ratified in the UK only after a referendum.

  Geoff Hoon

  Government, Made, Clear

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