In the run-up to the referendum on European Union membership last year, I never hid my support for Brexit. It led to some awkward dinner party moments when everyone waxed lyrical about how stupid and deluded Brexit supporters were and then silence descended as they realised there was a Brexiteer among them. In my academic field of European studies, being critical of the EU is rather like being a climate change scientist who admits he has an SUV in his garage.

Overall, though, responses from friends and colleagues were polite. There was even some sympathy among convinced “remainers” for my ideas. “I can see your point of view,” remarked one friend, “and you may be right in theory. But in practice,” he concluded gravely, “I