Robo
Just a little clarification
There would have been nothing wrong in holding a referendum on leaving Europe if:
a) There has been signs beforehand that there was enough discontent from the general populace on the issue to merit one

b) The referendum had been held correctly, taking the general interests of the people as a whole into consideration and providing the voters with the information they needed

c) That those responsible had made and presented carefully drawn out plans as to what would replace Europe and the consequences of doing so

On the first, there were no signs and no general discontent about European membership - the proceedings of the Europe Parliament where as much a mystery and is as remote as is the inner working of the Westminster Government - we know only what they wish us to know
The main four individuals who pushed Brexit through were Cummings, Farage, Johnson and Cameron - in that order
It was the anti immigration groups and those whose political failures made it necessary to mlame immigration who pressed for leaving and it was that issue which won it
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/brexit-latest-news-leave-eu-immigration-main-reason-european-union-survey-a7811651.html
OR PUT MORE BLUNTLY

Second
The immediate reported response was on non-indideanous people being asked "when are you going home" - racist incidents have now risen by over 42%
No decision that adversely acts against millions of national residents can ever be described "democratic", especially as most of those are already disadvantaged by being non-indigenous
The most prominent and memorable feature of the campaign was Farage's poster, which actually teetered on the brink of illegality

Third
No plans were drawn up for leaving and the horrendous possible consequences were kept hidden when they were finally researched - when they were leaked, the Brexit leaders were more concerned about them having been leaked than being prepared to discuss them

The whole thing was based on a lie and generated by Xenophobia - not my idea of democracy
Jim Carroll