What the UK could learn from Ireland’s EU referendum campaigns

Ireland has held several referendums on EU issues, with both the Treaty of Nice and the Treaty of Lisbon being rejected by the electorate, before subsequently being approved in second referendums. Gavin Barrett outlines five lessons the British government could learn from the Irish experience, including the feasibility of the UK holding its own second referendum should the country vote to leave the EU on 23 June 2016.

+ Winning referendums is difficult and managing referendum debates is problematic
+ Turnouts vary – and can be crucial
+ Money isn’t everything – but it counts
+ A second vote