Throughout, we must intensely engage with Europe, sussing out, smoothing over, spying out the room for manoeuvre. The role of Parliament is crucial. Above all, Britain should keep all our options open.

This last point is not an argument for another referendum. It is simply a statement of the obvious: the British people have a right to carry on being part of the debate, to consider the facts which will now take the place of the claims and counterclaims, and to discuss the options which will be put before us. Actually the people do have a right to change their mind, but that is not for now.

It is just that though we now know the decision of the referendum, so much about our future is unknown and undecided.