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Long life

A lesson from Italy on the futility of referendums

A recent referendum there shows how, if you ask people to answer a stupid question, most will refuse to do so

23 April 2016

9:00 AM

23 April 2016

9:00 AM

As we prepare in Britain for our momentous referendum in June, Italy has just had one. It happened last Sunday while I was on holiday in Tuscany, and it was about as futile an exercise in democracy as there could be. Italy has lots of referendums. They come in two kinds.

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