I think the point is that whilst only 36% voted to leave, still less voted to remain. We have to do one or the other, and you cannot assume that the abstentions would have all voted one way or the other. Personally I suspect more remain minded people abstained because of the more low key and ineffective campaign run by remain, but its only a hunch. The population overall probably still would be close to 50-50 had they all been forced to vote which is hardly a compelling result either way.

The fault lies in the way the referendum vote was defined - in a hugely marginal decision making process then maybe it should not have been 50-50. Maybe it should have required a minimum 10% majority of votes cast plus some provision for regional diversity (eg Scotland) in order to trigger a leave. But it didn't. Overconfidence by the decision makers who set up the voting mechanism and who maybe figured a vote to remain would come to pass given the backing of the two major parties.

So it is what it is - yes its a minority decision and yes it could create further constitutional crises in Scotland and Ireland, but if you want democracy, you have to count the cost. Even though I voted remain, I still want no part of a federal europe and/or political union, so thare are some benefits to what I think is an exit decision largely made on specious grounds.