All sides must now listen to voters ... and GET BREXIT DONE

FEW things better explain why 17.4 million people voted to leave the EU than the Eurocrats’ refusal to negotiate in good faith.

Entrenched in their fantasy world of an ever-greater, everexpanding Europe, EU chiefs have approached talks with a characteristic contempt for democracy.

Yet with steely resolve, our Prime Minister has negotiated a tolerable compromise. Her deal, while not perfect, avoids the perilous economic impact of a No Deal, takes us legally out of the EU and restores control of our borders.

Of course, no negotiation ever results in every party getting everything they want. By their very nature, negotiations entail compromise. Ordinary voters understand this.

Yes, the Prime Minister’s deal has its flaws but it is the only realistic option on the table. Not one of her opponents has put forward a viable alternative. Our politicians must remember this when they vote on Tuesday.

If, as appears depressingly likely, this last chance is voted down and, as appears certain, No Deal is taken off the table by Parliament on Wednesday, the consequences will be grave.

The next vote will decide if Britain should ask for Article 50 to be extended. We would have to return to the EU, cap in hand, while they name their price. They would likely force us to stay in the Customs Union and accept freedom of movement as the price for leaving, despite immigration being a main reason why many voted to leave.

The issue would inevitably split the Tories down the middle and could even break up the party.

Any extension to Article 50 would also make the calls for a second referendum louder, raising the possibility of no Brexit at all. Despite this, many Tory Brexiteers are planning to vote against Mrs May’s bill.

Why in the name of sanity would they do this?

While their passion and patriotism i s admirable, t hese hardliners believe the heavier Mrs May’s defeat, the more likely Brussels is to make concessions. Yet everything about the EU’s behaviour hitherto shows this is delusional.

They have no interest in helping us. It is in their interest, after all, to pile on the pain to discourage others from leaving. If the hardline Brexiteers vote down the deal they will be inflicting an act of gross self-sabotage on their project, on their party, and on our country.

It is incomprehensible they could be so wilfully blind to the repercussions of their actions.

Not only could they destroy Brexit, they could bring down t he Government and usher in Britain’ s first Marxist Prime Minister.

The history books will not be kind if they unleash chaos.

Ultra-Brexiteers are not the only culprits, though. The campaign to take No Deal off the table has been boosted by Chancellor Philip Hammond’s lamentable refusal in the early stages to make contingency plans for a No Deal exit, thus removing our negotiating trump card.

Tory Remainers, s uch a s Amber Rudd a nd Dominic Grieve, have also done all they can to frustrate Brexit and the will of the public.

Britain is weary and jaded. No 10’s polling reveals people just want to ‘get Brexit done’.

Uncertainty is gnawing away at our economy, undermining business confidence and driving away investment. More chaos is the last thing the country needs.

US ambassador Woody Johnson writes today that he is waiting to welcome Britain into a post- Brexit world with fresh trade deals. We should keep our eyes on that prize.

Voters want responsible and r at i onal r epresentatives at this defining moment.

It is time our MPs come to their senses and back t he Prime Minister. They will not be forgiven if they do not.