The 38% Iains comes from the percentage of the total electorate of the United Kingdom who voted to leave (Actually 37.4%).

Now with the same turn out and a reversed result of exactly the same numbers and the result being for the UK to remain within the EU - you would not have heard a peep from those "remoaners" who are incessantly whinging now.

The electorate of the UK were given an extended period in which to register, they were given every opportunity by every means possible to vote. the result as you correctly state was 52% voted to leave and 48% voted to remain - a victory for those wishing to leave - them as could not be bothered or arsed to vote do not feature either way, they had their chance and threw it away they cannot complain now.

It is called democracy some can live with it others cannot.