I'm not saying that the referendum was undemocratic. And a majority is a majority. But when it produces such a narrow result, with a margin of less than 4% and on a high turnout, on a matter which will have profound constitutional and economic consequences which will last for decadesand which almost certainly cannot be reversed, there should be a pause for thought. To simply say there was a majority so it must happen is to elevate the process over good governance.

It would be politically unthinkable not to start to move towards Brexit as a result of the referendum, but to ignore the opinion of very nearly the same number of people who took the opposite view is not democracy. We should proceed cautiously, and avoid committing the country to an irrevocable course of action until we have a clearer direction (as opposed to wishful thinking) and being sure that the proposal retains public support.