• THE Tribune hosts a lively discussion on the topic of Brexit. Some good points and much drivel for which, I fear, I might be responsible.

Yet there is one point of paramount importance which should always be kept in mind and in light of which everything should be viewed.

The referendum was a glorious success because it restored faith in democracy. Most of us know people who have never voted because they thought they couldn’t trust politicians.

Add the people who have voted but stopped doing so because they believed they had been let down, used by people they came to despise.

This is different; Parliament called the referendum in which they asked the public to make a decision because they lacked the courage to.

They promised to honour the result. People trusted the MPs again and came out to vote; how great is that? Sadly, Parliament has shown its true self, lacking the will to carry out the result and reducing it to a party-political squabble.

Who asked Labour to devise “tests”? A bit of nose to the grindstone and fewer excursions to Brussels would serve better.

Included among MPs but by no means unique is Dr Sarah Wollaston, who voted for holding the referendum, voted to trigger Article 50, but now is calling for a second referendum. Similarly, MP Keir Starmer, who then went on to declare “…Brexit can be stopped”.

How can this be political leadership? How is it possible for MPs, having completely failed to do what they promised to, suggest with a straight face that we vote again? Do they not understand that they should take responsibility for the promise they made to the electorate?

The renewed trust in democracy that we can be proud of was misplaced, aided and abetted by the callers for a “People’s Vote”. Don’t let them get away with it. Demand democracy and insist that the will of the people is carried out.

You may not like it, you may fear it, you may cherish the idea of rejoining the EU at some date, but do not betray democracy in order to bring it about. You might not get it back.

STEPHEN SOUTHAM
Mildmay Grove North, N1