The British Parliament illustrates the complete failure of representative democracy:
A first attempt by MPs to find a consensus route forward for Brexit has ended in deadlock and confusion after the Commons rejected every option put forward, albeit with a near-even split on the idea of joining a customs union.
Oliver Letwin, the veteran Conservative MP who led the process which allowed backbenchers to seize control of the order paper to hold a series of indicative votes, said the results were “disappointing” but he hoped a new round of votes would be held on Monday.
Brexit: all eight indicative vote options defeated by MPs – live news
Read more
The Speaker, John Bercow, said he would allow this to take place, prompting shouts of protests from many MPs.The Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, said the results strengthened the government’s view that Theresa May’s Brexit deal was the best and only way forward.
On the lack of a majority for any of the eight alternatives put to the vote on Wednesday, he said: “It demonstrates that there is not easy option here, that there is no easy way forward.”
How fortunate that direct democracy has already settled the matter: leave with no deal.