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Nico Johnson: Danielle Smith's regrettable referendum

Referendums have a habit of producing strange results

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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith would’ve done well to have spoken to David Cameron before she committed to plunging Alberta — and by default, the country — into what may become a distressing seccessionist battle. “You could unleash demons of which ye know not,” he said portentously, before calling the vote on Britain’s EU membership. He, too, thought the referendum was necessary; that the threat of separation would strengthen his hand against Brussels, and that the continuity of the status quo was inevitable.

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A decade later, the demons that referendum unleashed are incredible. The United Kingdom abandoned its membership of the European Union, only to now attempt reentry by stealth a decade later. David Cameron resigned, followed by years of political chaos, breeding ever more discontent. Now, the recent local elections suggest Britain’s ancient two-party system will disintegrate in front of our eyes. How Cameron must wish for a time machine.

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