Next week's annual Local Government Association (LGA) conference will be the first opportunity for foot soldiers across all political parties to get together since the cataclysmic referendum vote. The LGA event in Bournemouth (54% of whose voters backed Brexit on a 69% turnout despite the town's reliance on foreign students and tourism) promises to be electric; there will be blood on the carpets of the International Centre as furious debate erupts between Brexiteers and Remainers over what happens next to their respective parties.

In my view, the 23 June referendum was not the end of our membership of the EU, only a statement that we wish to negotiate an exit, the beginning of a process that could well end up with the UK still retaining membership should the UK parliament decide to put it to another vote. For those who argue that this is cheating, it needs to be pointed out that the referendum has no constitutional power and only occurred because David Cameron wanted it and parliament passed the legislation to make it happen. After all the Brexiteers emphasise the supremacy of the UK parliament and as most MPs are opposed to Brexit then parliament could in theory block the legislation needed to uncouple us from the EU. A government could negotiate a new agreement with the EU which it will then present to voters in another referendum, say in 18 months, with the alternative of Remain. The onus on activating Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty lies with the UK.