Online petition signed by 3.5 million Britons demands second Leave-or-Remain EU referendum

An online petition signed by more than 3.5 million people calling for a second referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU was started by a Leave campaigner who says it has been “hijacked” by unhappy Remain voters.

The petition, which has attracted millions of signatures in the wake of Britain’s shock vote to leave the European Union last Thursday, calls for a second referendum on the issue if the result is less than decisive.

Another referendum should be held, it says, “if the remain or leave vote is less than 60 percent based a turnout less than 75 percent.” In a startling result, the Leave campaign won Thursday’s referendum with 52% of the vote, with 72% of voters turning out.

Disappointed voters have flocked to sign the petition in the wake of the vote, crashing the official UK government website on at least one occasion and generating more signatures than on any other petition on the site.