Really? Moody's have cut growth forecasts for the UK economy from 1.8% to 1.5% this year and from 2.1% to 1.2% for 2017. They also say that trade deal negotiations could take up to 10 years, the EU are unlikely to entertain significant trade concessions without the free movement of people and substantial contributions to the EU budget.

"Restrictions on trade in financial services is a serious downside risk to the UK, as financial services make up 8% of the economy in gross value terms. A decline in this sector will undoubtedly spill across the economy".

Pensions funds will have been massively hit by falls in long term gilt prices to unprecedented low levels. This will increase pension fund deficits to unmanageable levels, and as these schemes are guaranteed by the government, any schemes unable to fulfill their obligations will need to be bailed out by the taxpayer.

Commercial property funds have been suspended by most major fund managers, meaning they have shut to investors wishing to withdraw their money as a direct result of the referendum. This was last seen just prior to the banking crisis in 2006-07.

Seems fairly certain to me, and many commentators have said this is just the start.

I used to be immortal

Blimey, I can agree with you on something.

The big question then becomes how much of a hit on the economy is worth it for the other considerations.

Hopefully, when you vote on such a big decision, you do so believing you are doing the right thing in the long term. I still believe that I have.

Maybe you are but it is quite clearly a triumph of hope over experience. Relying on nostalgia and hope, and without any clear plan, is no way to run a country. Now all the senior officers have abandoned the ship, so that they don't get covered in the s*** of disappointment when it hits the fan, and the realisation that what was promised were unachievable lies becomes obvious to everyone, even the most stubborn.

UKIP will become a party of ridicule, and that has already started with a strong distancing being made by the Tories. They deserve being kicked into the long grass because they carry a big responsibility for all of this.

I forecast that it will not be long before we see posters in cars which say "Don't blame me, I voted in!"

This has nothing at all with anyone not wanting to "make it work" and defeatism. It has everything to do with recognising mistakes and being prepared to deal with them.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

A very wise post Maple, there is no point in the 'i told you so' debate, we must just get on and do our best. But for those who say we should say nothing and clap along to the fiddles playing when Rome is burning...'this is how democracy works', leave won the referendum so expect some angry and vociferous opposition because every negative impact on jobs, distressed households, police numbers, nhs etc etc that is genuinely due to the Brexit vote should be accountable to those who made the decision....and if they dont like being blamed, well thats really just tough sh!t, but hopefully we will all learn a painful but valuable lesson

If economics is the only consideration.

What I do know is that some people will want to appear to be "right" what ever happens and will spin the facts to make it appear that way.
Right now all the self righteousness seems to be coming, prematurely, from the Remain camp.

Time to move on.