Personally, although I expected exactly this*, I don't think this is a good result for many reasons.
It's mainly because a referendum was not the right way to do this. Constitutionally, the UK parliament at Westminster is the expression of the sovereignty of the British people. We should have elected a pro-Brexit parliament, not had a referendum. This divides rather than unifies the country. Farage bears a heavy responsiblity, as he decided years ago that making UKIP electable at Westminster was not a priority. The electorate have had nowhere to turn to.
We know from many recent elections, national and local, that people are fed up with an elite making decisions for them. Many laws recently have been passed despite the population, not in expression of their will. Now we have what I believe will become a full-on constitutional crisis - democratically elected parliament versus a plebiscite.
I'm not fussing about Scotland - they'll grudgingly follow whoever funds their lifestyle (I'm part Scottish!). If the funding issue becomes centre stage, and the SNP have been at best disingenuous about this, we may look back on this as the SNP's high-water mark. Time will tell.
I am, however, worried about the return of extremism in Northern Ireland, and about a rush for the entrance at British borders. I'm not even sure we'll have a tough negotiation with the EU - they can't afford to be too nasty (although they'll certainly try!).
But shortly, France, Greece and other countries' elites will be facing the EU's real existential crisis. It has to be said that Britain hasn't caused it. The creation of a new oligarchy, bypassing of democracy and massive economic mismanagement have been the problems.
The euro has been the biggest dogmatic stupidity of all - (there are many contestants for that title!). It typifies the attitude of EU-crats - hang the common people, the Project will move forward. Remember: it's entirely your fault if you live in Greece or Spain and are aged under 25.
Greece in particular won't appreciate it if the EU puts extra tax on Intaglio printing presses.
The European peoples are now rejecting this worldview. We shouldn't be smug: we are just the first group to point at the emperor's nakedness. We have to leave, simply because the downside risks of staying are too enormous.
But make no mistake: the UK is in crisis. There isn't a party that really reflects the views of the people. That is clear now, more than it's ever been. I see no leaders now on the scene capable of uniting the country through this process. If history judges Boris and Nigel (and Cameron and Corbyn, and Milliband and ) harshly, it may seem unfair, but it will be justified.
Personally, I'm not proud of any of them.
E.
*rural areas and "urban poor" areas voting leave.
