WHAT a difference a week makes!

Last Thursday a majority of North Wiltshire’s voters rejected our Brexit MP, James Gray’s advice and joined me in voting to remain in the European Union. A fact confirmed by the deputy returning officer at the end of our area’s referendum count in Chippenham.

One group’s votes were not there to be counted. Sixteen and 17-year-olds whose future is at stake were disenfranchised, unlike Scotland’s independence vote. Disgracefully, the Tories blocked Lib Dem attempts to enable that to happen this time.‎ Sadly, much of England did not follow North Wiltshire’s lead. As a result the future of the UK is back at risk, the pound has dropped, our largest firms have lost value, so hitting our pensions, and have put their investment and recruitment plans on pause. The Chancellor tells us the “punishment budget” of big cuts and tax rises is being prepared for the autumn.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s announcement has plunged the Tories into civil war, Labour has descended into chaos, UKIP tells us the much-promised extra NHS cash on leaving the EU was a ‘lie’ and the Leave leaders now say immigration was not a big issue in their campaign. It is also clear to all that they never had a Brexit plan.

Unsurprisingly, the thousands of liberally-minded people who want an open, tolerant and progressive society are joining the one UK Party united in supporting Britain’s European Union membership; the Liberal Democrats. I would urge readers who share these values to do so too.

We are already seeing the harsh impact of the Referendum decision.

While I respect it, I believe that the Brexit-negotiated outcome as against remaining in the EU on our current terms should be put again to all of us, including the then 16 and 17-year-olds. I also hope the tone, content and outcome of that debate will be much different from this one.

DR BRIAN MATHEW, North Wiltshire Liberal Democrats Parliamentary spokesman