Referendum wording was spelled out

SIR, – “Referendums are essentially advisory and have no legal authority to implement”.

Here is a new slant from Dr Fouin (P&J, January 8). I wonder if his opinion would have been the same if the vote had gone the other way?

Could I remind Dr Fouin of the wise words of one of the people who did “choose to lead”.

Our esteemed prime minister of the day, David Cameron, had this to say: “It will be your decision whether to remain in the EU, or whether we leave. Your decision. Nobody else’s. Not politicians’. Not parliament’s. Not lobby groups’. Not mine. Just you. You, the British people will decide. At that moment, you will hold this country’s destiny in your hands. And it will be the final decision.

“When the British people speak, their voice will be respected, not ignored. If we vote to leave, then we will leave. There will not be another negotiation and another referendum.”

These words were unequivocal, there was absolutely nothing “advisory” in them.

Perhaps Dr Fouin should have pointed out to the prime minister at the time that the referendum result could only ever be “advisory”, but of course there were never any thoughts at the time that the vote might conceivably go against them.

Dr Fouin’s opinion that Brexit is rapidly descending into farce could be right, but only because of interference in the people’s decision by losing politicians and media who cling on to their own agenda.