The 'Will of the People' has been invoked as justifying Brexit and what the Daily Mail calls “a deep-seated human yearning to recover our national identity and independence”. But as a concept it explodes the sovereignty of parliament, which is the bedrock of British nationalism. Also, Scotland and Northern Ireland voted differently from England (and Wales would too now, if there is another vote). So who are 'the people'? Do they have only one 'will'? Is it unchangeable? Is it an expression of democracy or an anti-democratic device? These questions go to the heart of Brexit.

Speaker profiles

Anthony Barnett is the founder of openDemocracy, author of The Lure of Greatness: England's Brexit and America's Trump, and a supporter of a People's Vote.