Given the difficulty that MPs seem to be having making a decision about Brexit, it is perhaps not surprising that there is considerable discussion of the idea that the issue should be put back in the hands of voters.

But the idea of a so-called "People’s Vote" has also become a major talking point thanks to a skillfully conducted campaign that has been intent on creating the impression that there is popular support for such a ballot by commissioning polling that appears to show that is the case.

However, this impression is misleading. True, many a poll does suggest that more are in favour of another ballot than are against. However, there are also plenty of polls that show the very opposite. Meanwhile, all polls show that the support for holding a second referendum is largely confined to those in favour of remaining in the EU.

One of the features of the polling on the subject is that a differently worded question has been asked almost every time the issue is addressed. In just the two months since the draft Brexit deal was unveiled on 15 November, more than a dozen differently worded questions have been asked in the polls. And the differences of wording matter.