IMMEDIATELY after the results of the referendum emerged MP Neil Carmichael warned that there will be a difficult time ahead.

The Stroud MP said he was “naturally disappointed” by the overall result but proud that the Stroud district voted to remain.

He said the government must accept the result and plan to take measures to deal with the consequences.

“It is inevitable there will be problems and that the economy will suffer,” said Mr Carmichael, who was chairman of the Conservative Group for Europe.

“It is going to be a difficult year or two ahead.

“However we will have to take the necessary measures to prepare for the consequences.

“I am sad on a personal level that David Cameron has said he is to resign.

“He really had no option. It is necessary for the country to have a new prime minister to lead the country forward.”

He added that he does not foresee the need for another general election following the result.

After the tumultuous weekend and a few days for further reflection Mr Carmichael shared some additional thoughts.

“I would like to thank all those who have sent me words of appreciation for my campaigning to remain in the European Union,” he said.

“I have been touched by them all, especially as so many came from members of other parties than my own and from people with no known political affiliation.

“I am also very grateful to the over 40,000 people who voted to remain in the EU – this meant that our district bucked the trend with an almost 55-45 split in favour of remaining.

“Thank you to you all.

“The fact is that despite our local performance, the nation as a whole rejected continued membership of the EU.

“This is a populist expression of opinion which cannot be ignored, least of all by our now undermined parliament – up until last week completely sovereign and representative of the United Kingdom as a whole.

“Indeed, the referendum is, essentially, an instruction to parliament to disengage from the EU.

“I appreciate the urge by many to petition parliament for a reconsideration but this is unlikely to be successful because any petition would have to overcome the fact that over 17 million people voted to leave – the largest expression of democratic will ever recorded in the UK.

“In short, the UK, or at least the main bulk will leave the EU (Scotland, for instance, may wish to promote its own interests).

“In my view, the process should get underway as soon as possible and therefore in line with the intentions of the European Union itself.

“Recognising the fatality of our decision is important. Partly this is because the longer we linger on, the more damaging to us the terms for our departure could be.

“The electoral mandate the next Prime Minister has to negotiate our departure is, presently, strong but, as the consequences of leaving become clearer, this advantage will evaporate.

“Ultimately, we must be sure to leave on reasonably friendly terms as we will be, despite everything, neighbours with the EU.

“For the future, we must leave a route map in place to reengage with the EU and, more immediately, we must, through all-party oversight, make sure the negotiations to leave achieve the best deal possible for the UK.

“In years to come another generation may well want to pick up the pieces left behind from the 45 years of membership (1973-2018) so no bridges should be burnt.”