It really matters not a jot what our parliament now decides - our European neighbours want us out, end of.
I can't help but smile at the naivety of those politicians (and members of the general public) who somehow think that the UK changing its mind would be greeted joyfully by the rest of the EU who would rush to welcome us with open arms, somewhat like the prodigal son returning.
Having long been viewed as reluctant and obstructive members of the EU the chances of us even being offered a seat at the table again, even if there was another referendum, are pretty much nil. If we did go cap in hand then the conditions for re-admission would be such that they would be rejected outright - loss of rebate, joining the Schengen area, agreement for further harmonisation.
In much the same way as certain members of the EU are pushing for a post-Brexit UK to be penalised pour encourager les autres, so they could not afford for a chastened UK to be seen to gain anything by voting out and then seeking to come back into the fold.
In my extensive travels in and beyond Europe for work since the referendum I find that the reaction to the Brexit vote typically falls into one of three camps:
1. Relief; that the UK has finally declared in public what has long been viewed as our intention in private
2. Fear; that "the European project" will now rush full steam ahead with no UK at the table to restrain the EU-rocrats wildest ideas for fiscal, social, defence and cultural harmonisation
3. Hope; that the EU may now reform or risk further break-up
There is some confusion, a little anger, considerable admiration, and much humour, over what has taken place.
The only nation which is still deluding itself that "Brexit may not mean Brexit" is the UK.
