We can extend the "transition" period
You can make a vague deal that will be deemed unacceptable by hard brexiters, but the problem of having a country and a governing party that are divided is not going to solve itself.
For the moment, the UK rebate (a huge amount of money) is questioned in case the UK decides to remain. Creating uncertainty and trouble is not free.
True, but what is the point of having a vote if it is just ignored? ...
If there is a second vote, the public has no reason to vote ever again.
The vote was not ignored. The government has tried to deliver the promises that were made during the referendum. Just in case someone did not know already, these were absolutely impossible.
- The EU immigration is linked to the common market and the UK cannot pick and choose.
- You can´t pretend to access a market without having a common jurisdiction.
- You can´t substitute the trade the UK has with Europe with imaginary trade deals with Trumpist USA, China, India nor any other country.
And so many other stupidities that no-one ever thought that would have to be delivered, as the result was not expected.
At this point, most UK citizens have finally realised that it was a bad idea to leave, that the younger generations are going to pay for it dearly and that it would be convenient to re-think (re-vote) to see what people think today after seeing the true nature of a Brexit.
The core of the question is though, if now the majority votes for not leaving how can you deny their choice?
Correct, they could be offered a choice of what type of Brexit they want or try (I am not that sure it is really possible) to revert the decision.
The realistic alternatives at this point are:
a) WTO rules, with no deal at all. Hard border in Ireland.
This option is super-expensive. Not even the UK can afford the luxury of doing this.
b) Canadian style trade deal.
Reasonable, yet still very expensive. Probably would cause a crisis for the young generations.
c) Norwegian / Swiss type of deal, with full access to market and free movement of people.
Would make the UK loose face, as it was better to have influence, but minimises the crisis, the pound recovers and we are again one happy (dysfunctional) family.
There is no chance of a Chequers agreement. In the UK is seen as insufficient for the brexiters and in Europe is seen as giving a ridiculously privileged treatment to the UK.
BTW, Can any of the hard brexiters here provide a practical, economically viable and realistic answer to the Irish border issue? Because all that is being said is about conspiracy theories, governing illuminati, etc... but I just don´t see anything that could possibly solve the real problems. Just a mumble-jumble of empire-age nostalgia, mixed with false information and xenophobic propaganda.