--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because the referendum in 2016 wasn't…" description: "\"Because the referendum in 2016 wasn't just about our relationship with the E.U., it was about millions of people and their relationship with politics a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/james-cleverly-13014_about_because-the-referendum-in-2016-wasn-t-ju_2604398.jpg" --- # Because the referendum in 2016 wasn't just about our… ![“Because the referendum in 2016 wasn't just about our relationship with the E.U., it was about millions of people and their relationship with politics as a whole.” quote by James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/james-cleverly-13014_about_because-the-referendum-in-2016-wasn-t-ju_2604398.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/james-cleverly-13014_about_because-the-referendum-in-2016-wasn-t-ju_2604398.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/james-cleverly-13014_about_because-the-referendum-in-2016-wasn-t-ju_2604398.jpg) > “Because the referendum in 2016 wasn't just about our relationship with the E.U., it was about millions of people and their relationship with politics as a whole.” [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Referendum reflected broader public disengagement from politics, highlighting need for renewed democratic participation **In simple terms:** People’s relationship with politics is crucial Key Takeaway Encourage civic involvement, rebuild trust Themes politics engagement democracy Mood concerned analytical Type political motivational When to use this quote - election campaigns - civic education - community forums Key Concepts public trust EU relations citizen voice Questions to Reflect On - What strategies can restore public trust? - How can institutions become more responsive? A Different Perspective Political apathy may persist despite reforms ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Millions People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Referendum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/referendum/) [Referendum 2016](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/referendum-2016-1974197/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Relationship Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-millions-1974198/) [Relationship Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-politics-1974199/) ## Related quotes > [ The real difference between relationship politics and transactional politics is loyalty. \[Barack\] Obama doesn't seem to expect it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/the-real-difference-between-relationship-politics-and-transactional/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [As far as I am concerned this referendum should settle the matter. I believe it will one way or another be decisive. Britain will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/as-far-as-i-am-concerned-this-referendum-should-settle-the-matter-i/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [How can a governing party propose to its people a referendum that won't be binding? Is that a serious political programme? No it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/how-can-a-governing-party-propose-to-its-people-a-referendum-that-won/) [Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/) > [If there are further steps to European integration, the people should have their say at a general election or in a referendum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/if-there-are-further-steps-to-european-integration-the-people-should/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [We must have serious dialogue between Catalonia and the Spanish state on a referendum, on independence, and on how a separation from Spain -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carles-puigdemont/we-must-have-serious-dialogue-between-catalonia-and-the-spanish-state/) [Carles Puigdemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carles-puigdemont/) > [I don't believe an Alliance government should sponsor legislation on abortion or a referendum on abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/i-don-t-believe-an-alliance-government-should-sponsor-legislation-on/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [After Brexit referendum, our country faces major challenges. Risks to the economy and living standards are growing. The public is split.The government is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-streeting/after-brexit-referendum-our-country-faces-major-challenges-risks-to/) [Wes Streeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-streeting/) > [The outcome of the referendum does not affect those of my officials who have British nationality, since they work for Europe and not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/the-outcome-of-the-referendum-does-not-affect-those-of-my-officials/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [I actually don't believe in governance by referendum. I believe that we have a democracy, that we elect people to make decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/i-actually-don-t-believe-in-governance-by-referendum-i-believe-that/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [Boycotting the referendum is a possible option ... because we believe that participating in the voting might be a useless act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saleh-al-mutlaq/boycotting-the-referendum-is-a-possible-option-because-we-believe/) [Saleh al-Mutlaq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saleh-al-mutlaq/) > [The Government have consistently made it clear that the mechanism in the United Kingdom whereby the European draft constitutional treaty could be implemented is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-alexander/the-government-have-consistently-made-it-clear-that-the-mechanism-in/) [Douglas Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-alexander/) > [“If the surprise outcome of the recent UK referendum - on whether to leave or remain in the European Union - teaches us anything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morritt/if-the-surprise-outcome-of-the-recent-uk-referendum-on-whether-to/) [Alex Morritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morritt/) > [The 1860 election became a referendum on the southern way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/the-1860-election-became-a-referendum-on-the-southern-way-of-life/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) > [Actually, I never wanted an E.U. referendum, and I think those who called for it will one day wish they hadn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hitchens/actually-i-never-wanted-an-e-u-referendum-and-i-think-those-who/) [Peter Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hitchens/) > [The old politician maintain the chair for a lot of decades. So if we will lose the referendum, this is not a problem for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-renzi/the-old-politician-maintain-the-chair-for-a-lot-of-decades-so-if-we/) [Matteo Renzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-renzi/) ## More by James Cleverly > [It's the nature often on social media that people say things without really thinking through their position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/it-s-the-nature-often-on-social-media-that-people-say-things-without/) [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) > [Being hip, being popular, being cool, that's really easy. Until you have to make tough decisions. And when you have to make tough decisions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/being-hip-being-popular-being-cool-that-s-really-easy-until-you-have/) [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) > [My fear is of the message we put out to millions of voters is that if change is not initiated through the ballot box,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/my-fear-is-of-the-message-we-put-out-to-millions-of-voters-is-that-if/) [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) > [When I have been speaking to people in Braintree and at other places in the country they really didn't buy into Labour's economic offer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/when-i-have-been-speaking-to-people-in-braintree-and-at-other-places/) [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) > [Actually, Brexit is an incredibly important issue, but it's not the only issue. 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And when he goes on the campaign trail that just becomes so evident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/boris-is-a-naturally-energetic-and-optimistic-politician-and-when-he/) [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) > [I'm in the most diverse Cabinet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/i-m-in-the-most-diverse-cabinet/) [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) > [If we went around just throwing people on the scrap heap because of one or two things that they might have done in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/if-we-went-around-just-throwing-people-on-the-scrap-heap-because-of/) [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) > [I get racist stuff all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/i-get-racist-stuff-all-the-time/) [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) > [Brexit has given us the start of a conversation with people who perhaps haven't traditionally voted Conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/brexit-has-given-us-the-start-of-a-conversation-with-people-who/) [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) > [I, Daniel Blake' is a powerful and moving film. But it is a political polemic and is particularly unfair on the public sector professionals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/i-daniel-blake-is-a-powerful-and-moving-film-but-it-is-a-political/) [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) > [When I was on the London assembly it was quite common for government ministers to refuse to appear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/when-i-was-on-the-london-assembly-it-was-quite-common-for-government/) [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) [Explore all 52 James Cleverly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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