Definition
The People's Vote was a political campaign in the United Kingdom that advocated for a second public referendum on the country's withdrawal from the European Union, commonly known as Brexit.
Overview
Formed in 2018, the People's Vote coalition brought together a range of pro‑remain political parties, civil society groups, trade unions, and individuals. The campaign’s central demand was that the government hold a new, legally binding referendum in which voters could choose either to accept the negotiated Brexit deal or to remain in the EU. The movement organized large public demonstrations, most notably the 2019 March for the Vote in London, which attracted hundreds of thousands of participants. Despite significant public visibility and media coverage, the campaign did not achieve its primary objective; Parliament voted against authorising a second referendum in March 2019.
Etymology / Origin
The term “People’s Vote” combines the generic noun “people,” referring to the electorate, with “vote,” denoting a formal decision-making process through a ballot. The phrase was coined by campaign organizers to emphasize democratic legitimacy and to contrast the proposed second referendum with the 2016 referendum, which they argued had been decided without adequate information about the negotiated withdrawal terms.
Characteristics
- Coalition Structure – The campaign operated as a loose alliance of over 50 groups, including the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, the Scottish National Party, and various trade unions and advocacy organisations.
- Core Demand – A legally binding, UK‑wide referendum on the final Brexit withdrawal agreement, with the option to remain in the EU.
- Public Mobilisation – Organized mass rallies, most prominently the 24 March 2019 March for the Vote in London, and smaller demonstrations across the UK.
- Political Engagement – Lobbied Members of Parliament, produced policy briefs, and engaged in media campaigns to argue that a second referendum was necessary for democratic accountability.
- Funding – Relied on donations from individuals and affiliated organisations; financial disclosures were submitted to the UK Electoral Commission.
- Outcome – The campaign’s parliamentary motion for a second referendum was rejected on 14 March 2019 (307 votes against, 233 for). Subsequent political developments led to the United Kingdom’s formal exit from the EU on 31 January 2020.
Related Topics
- Brexit
- 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum
- Second referendum movements in other jurisdictions
- UK parliamentary procedure for referendums
- Democratic legitimacy and public opinion polling
- Political coalitions and campaign strategy in the United Kingdom