--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Given that the reality of Brexit has…" description: "\"Given that the reality of Brexit has turned out to be so far from what was once promised, the democratic thing to do is to give the public the final sa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a7/jo-johnson-17974_brexit_given-that-the-reality-of-brexit-has-tur_2009994.jpg" --- # Given that the reality of Brexit has turned out to be so… ![“Given that the reality of Brexit has turned out to be so far from what was once promised, the democratic thing to do is to give the public the final say.” quote by Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a7/jo-johnson-17974_brexit_given-that-the-reality-of-brexit-has-tur_2009994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a7/jo-johnson-17974_brexit_given-that-the-reality-of-brexit-has-tur_2009994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a7/jo-johnson-17974_brexit_given-that-the-reality-of-brexit-has-tur_2009994.jpg) > “Given that the reality of Brexit has turned out to be so far from what was once promised, the democratic thing to do is to give the public the final say.” [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy requires letting citizens decide when promises fail. **In simple terms:** Let people vote when policies disappoint. Key Takeaway Support public referenda on major issues. Themes democracy politics accountability Brexit Mood serious reflective political Type statement opinion When to use this quote - national elections - policy reviews - public consultations Key Concepts public opinion referendum political legitimacy Questions to Reflect On - Should every policy be decided by referendum? - How to balance expertise and popular will? A Different Perspective Public opinion may be divided and polarizing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brexit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brexit/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [It is crystal clear the reality of what Brexit will mean is very different from what we were told in 2016.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-reeves/it-is-crystal-clear-the-reality-of-what-brexit-will-mean-is-very/) [Rachel Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-reeves/) > [The reality is that no Brexit deal can be achieved if Northern Ireland is never allowed to leave the Customs Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/the-reality-is-that-no-brexit-deal-can-be-achieved-if-northern/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [As I predicted, young people who overwhelmingly didn't want Brexit have turned out in their droves and exacted revenge on a generation of Leavers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-soubry/as-i-predicted-young-people-who-overwhelmingly-didn-t-want-brexit/) [Anna Soubry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-soubry/) > [Ramy' is based on a lot of personal things, and it's interesting to see how many people feel like it's their story. And how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramy-youssef/ramy-is-based-on-a-lot-of-personal-things-and-it-s-interesting-to-see/) [Ramy Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramy-youssef/) > [Everyone should have a blog. It's the most democratic thing ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-cutler/everyone-should-have-a-blog-it-s-the-most-democratic-thing-ever/) [Jessica Cutler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-cutler/) > [A public library is the most democratic thing in the world. What can be found there has undone dictators and tyrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/a-public-library-is-the-most-democratic-thing-in-the-world-what-can/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [It shone on everyone, whether they had a contract or not. The most democratic thing I'd ever seen, that California sunshine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/it-shone-on-everyone-whether-they-had-a-contract-or-not-the-most/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [Most unsuccessful people let their fears and doubts have the final say in how they live their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/most-unsuccessful-people-let-their-fears-and-doubts-have-the-final/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [“It's not your family who defines you; they're an influence, all right, but they don't have the final say. We answer for that ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-doyle-mcquerry/it-s-not-your-family-who-defines-you-they-re-an-influence-all-right/) [Maureen Doyle McQuerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-doyle-mcquerry/) > [“This being the final say, tomorrow is thought about. The what of tomorrow, the who? The maybe, the if. Should it never come, none,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosca-marx/this-being-the-final-say-tomorrow-is-thought-about-the-what-of/) [Rosca Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosca-marx/) > [“We’re here, you and I. We’re not going away. We’re here, if for no other reason than God wants us here, and He gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/we-re-here-you-and-i-we-re-not-going-away-we-re-here-if-for-no-other/) [Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/) > [“Lord, thank You that my failures never get the final say—You do!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-swope/lord-thank-you-that-my-failures-never-get-the-final-say-you-do/) [Renee Swope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-swope/) > [“No one could be able to lift the limit you've put against yourself. You've the final say where you would like to conclude your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assegid-habtewold/no-one-could-be-able-to-lift-the-limit-you-ve-put-against-yourself/) [Assegid Habtewold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assegid-habtewold/) > [“You wonder what it must be like to be a man, to be so confident that the final say is yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-jenkins-reid/you-wonder-what-it-must-be-like-to-be-a-man-to-be-so-confident-that/) [Taylor Jenkins Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-jenkins-reid/) > [“Take good care of your final word. If your final say will hunt you in day's ahead, then hold back the words, and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/take-good-care-of-your-final-word-if-your-final-say-will-hunt-you-in/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) ## More by Jo Johnson > [There is no precedent of an advanced economy withdrawing from a trade agreement as deep and as complex as the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/there-is-no-precedent-of-an-advanced-economy-withdrawing-from-a-trade/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [No one voted for a Brexit that will tie us to the E.U.'s customs rules and prevent us striking meaningful trade deals of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/no-one-voted-for-a-brexit-that-will-tie-us-to-the-e-u-s-customs-rules/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [The case for Brexit was made on rhetorical flourishes and promises and bluster. A lot of promises on which people voted have turned out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/the-case-for-brexit-was-made-on-rhetorical-flourishes-and-promises/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [There is no place in world where you can do higher education better than in the UK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/there-is-no-place-in-world-where-you-can-do-higher-education-better/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [Although I voted Remain, I have desperately wanted the Government, in which I have been proud to serve, to make a success of Brexit:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/although-i-voted-remain-i-have-desperately-wanted-the-government-in/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [Some Brexiteers are passionate defenders of the benefits of immigration. Others just can't wait to slam the doors shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/some-brexiteers-are-passionate-defenders-of-the-benefits-of/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [As the U.K.'s position as a global financial services hub weakens, our competitors will lose no time in attracting jobs in services from our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/as-the-u-k-s-position-as-a-global-financial-services-hub-weakens-our/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [It is of course true that many of our universities are large and complex organisations, requiring highly skilled individuals to run them effectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/it-is-of-course-true-that-many-of-our-universities-are-large-and/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [We talk, as any brothers, or as most brothers do, particularly when you are involved in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/we-talk-as-any-brothers-or-as-most-brothers-do-particularly-when-you/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [A vote to leave would be a leap into the dark that would put our status as a science superpower at risk. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/a-vote-to-leave-would-be-a-leap-into-the-dark-that-would-put-our/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [If we are serious about Global Britain, we must recognise that international students bring huge benefits to our universities, our local economies and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/if-we-are-serious-about-global-britain-we-must-recognise-that/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [I grew up in Brussels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/i-grew-up-in-brussels/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [Brexit was meant to be about taking back control, we are ceding control; it was meant to be about trade deals, we are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/brexit-was-meant-to-be-about-taking-back-control-we-are-ceding/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [Brexit has divided the country. It has divided political parties. And it has divided families too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/brexit-has-divided-the-country-it-has-divided-political-parties-and/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [I want to make it very-very clear that Indian students are warmly welcome to U.K.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/i-want-to-make-it-very-very-clear-that-indian-students-are-warmly/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) [Explore all 36 Jo Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) ## More Brexit quotes > [No-deal Brexit could be Boris Johnson's biggest deception yet - worse than the Boris bus or the lies that had him sacked as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/no-deal-brexit-could-be-boris-johnson-s-biggest-deception-yet-worse/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [And after Brexit, we will be free to determine our economic future, with control over our money, laws and borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-truss/and-after-brexit-we-will-be-free-to-determine-our-economic-future/) [Liz Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-truss/) > [No one voted for a Brexit that will tie us to the E.U.'s customs rules and prevent us striking meaningful trade deals of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/no-one-voted-for-a-brexit-that-will-tie-us-to-the-e-u-s-customs-rules/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [The argument that won the Brexit campaign is the one that said take back control... which is another way of saying we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-argument-that-won-the-brexit-campaign-is-the-one-that-said-take/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [The audience for facts, evidence and research about microtargeting, Facebook and Brexit is tiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cummings/the-audience-for-facts-evidence-and-research-about-microtargeting/) [Dominic Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cummings/) > [I am a passionate, pragmatic, and positive believer in Brexit, and with my three-step plan, we can decisively leave the E.U.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-leadsom/i-am-a-passionate-pragmatic-and-positive-believer-in-brexit-and-with/) [Andrea Leadsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-leadsom/) > [The important thing with Facebook is to remember that it played a role in facilitating Brexit because it inadvertently allowed leave-supporting groups to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nish-kumar/the-important-thing-with-facebook-is-to-remember-that-it-played-a/) [Nish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nish-kumar/) > [Brexit has always been an impossible project, except at the price of massive self-harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/brexit-has-always-been-an-impossible-project-except-at-the-price-of/) [Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/) > [Whatever happens with Brexit, what I am absolutely convinced will not happen is that free movement of individuals, free movement of people, will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/whatever-happens-with-brexit-what-i-am-absolutely-convinced-will-not/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [I think one of the laughable things about poor old Brexit is that they're so cross - they're furious with everyone. But this isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-soames/i-think-one-of-the-laughable-things-about-poor-old-brexit-is-that/) [Nicholas Soames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-soames/) > [Brexit has really broken a taboo. The Brits have shown us that you can leave the European Union, and you can come out better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/brexit-has-really-broken-a-taboo-the-brits-have-shown-us-that-you-can/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [People are rightly concerned about what Brexit will mean for the country, for their jobs and for their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemi-badenoch/people-are-rightly-concerned-about-what-brexit-will-mean-for-the/) [Kemi Badenoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemi-badenoch/) > [Brexit is not, thankfully, a question of war. But, like Iraq, Brexit is an act of unprovoked self-harm and a massive strategic mistake that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/brexit-is-not-thankfully-a-question-of-war-but-like-iraq-brexit-is-an/) [Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/) > [I'll keep fighting for the best, most successful Brexit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/i-ll-keep-fighting-for-the-best-most-successful-brexit/) [Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/) > [The skills necessary to change nappies or negotiate Brexit are obviously very different, but both involve a great deal of trust in the competence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/the-skills-necessary-to-change-nappies-or-negotiate-brexit-are/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) [Browse all 412 Brexit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brexit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Given that the reality of Brexit has turned out to be so far from what was once promised, the democratic thing to do is to give the public the final say.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jo Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/given-that-the-reality-of-brexit-has-turned-out-to-be-so-far-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brexit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/given-that-the-reality-of-brexit-has-turned-out-to-be-so-far-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a7/jo-johnson-17974_brexit_given-that-the-reality-of-brexit-has-tur_2009994.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a7/jo-johnson-17974_brexit_given-that-the-reality-of-brexit-has-tur_2009994.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a7/jo-johnson-17974_brexit_given-that-the-reality-of-brexit-has-tur_2009994.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Given that the reality of Brexit has turned out to be so far from what was once promised, the democratic…” — Jo Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jo Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Given that the reality of Brexit...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/given-that-the-reality-of-brexit-has-turned-out-to-be-so-far-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/given-that-the-reality-of-brexit-has-turned-out-to-be-so-far-from/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```