• “I WILL forgive no one who does not respect the sovereign voice of the British people once it has spoken. When the British people have spoken you do what they command. Either you believe in democracy or you don’t.”

So spoke Paddy, Baron Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon. There can be no doubt as to his view of remaining in the European Union. It can’t happen. The sovereign voice has spoken.

This is not a political, right-left issue. It is a right-or-wrong issue. Democracy or anti-democracy, and Remain is close to championing the latter.

MP Anna Soubry voted to give the sovereign voice the final decision by voting in favour of the EU referendum. Don’t complain when the answer isn’t the one you wanted.

MP Barry Sheerman voted in favour of the EU referendum. After the result he commented that it was “the better educated people” who voted to remain.

Over a nine-week campaign, gerrymandered by the better educated, they managed a convincing defeat. Result: Thickos 1, Better Educated 0.

Too late for regrets and second thoughts. You simply cannot ask to hear the sovereign voice and then dismiss it when you don’t like what it tells you to do.

Our MPs and lords should do as commanded and be resolute in the face of the pettiness of EU bullying. There can’t be more than a few dozen fearful Remainers who find this behaviour acceptable.

The vision of the EU negotiator posturing like a Regency fop is stomach turning. On second thoughts, it’s Lord Snooty.

STEPHEN SOUTHAM, N1