TO say that Thursday's referendum result has caused a political earthquake would be an understatement.

Like the Prime Minister, I believed that Britain should remain in the European Union because it was in our economic interests to do so.

Unfortunately, that argument failed to gain traction with a majority of the population who had concerns about immigration and sovereignty which they believed, rightly or wrongly, would be resolved by a Brexit.

Nationally, over 17 million people voted to leave the European Union and, in Warrington, people voted by 54 per cent to 46 per cent for Leave.

I understand why many people who voted remain now feel frustrated at the outcome and I share some of them.

Perhaps in years to come we will be proved right – or perhaps not. Either way, the country has made a decision and those petitioning for a referendum are mistaken.

This was not the sort of referendum one might witness in a dictatorship, where eligibility to vote is tightly controlled, the timetable is compressed to hinder any opposition and where voters are intimidated into voting a particular way.

This referendum was carried out to the very highest standards of openness and transparency.

There were no restrictions placed on campaigning, the Government went out of its way to ensure that all those entitled to vote were on the electoral register and most election counts were observed by both independent watchers and activists from both campaigns.

In short – the result was a free and fair one.

To suggest that MPs should overturn that result on the basis that 'they know best' is as ludicrous as suggesting that, unless one side has 60 per cent or more of possession, the result of the England-Iceland game should be decided by UEFA on the basis of 'who played the best football', although we'd probably still be eliminated!

Parliament's focus should now be on getting the best possible deal for Britain while minimising the cost of leaving.

Brexit will close doors but it will also open them – we have to be brave enough and resilient enough work together to rebuild our country and shape a future of opportunity.