When asked by audiences why he committed such a strategic blunder in calling the EU referendum, David Cameron says it was inevitable. What he means is that the civil war over Europe had reached such fever pitch in the Tory party he feared for his job if he didn’t give in.

Similarly, when Theresa May says she cannot thwart the public will to take Britain out of the EU lock, stock and barrel, she means she doesn’t want to expend any political capital standing up to those same ideologues, whatever the economic cost. She chooses to invest instead in Donald Trump.

In both cases, Cameron and May mistake the Tory party for the country and a proportion of Leave voters for the public as a whole. Amongst those who voted, the country was evenly divided.

Aren’t those who voted Remain – and those who didn’t vote Leave in order to make themselves poorer – entitled to some consideration too?

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Show all 8 1 /8 How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Weetabix Chief executive of Weetabix Giles Turrell has warned that the price of one of the nation’s favourite breakfast are likely to go up this year by low-single digits in percentage terms. Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Nescafé The cost of a 100g jar of Nescafé Original at Sainsbury’s has gone up 40p from £2.75 to £3.15 – a 14 per cent rise—since the Brexit vote. PA How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Freddo When contacted by The Independent this month, a Mondelez spokesperson declined to discuss specific brands but confirmed that there would be "selective" price increases across its range despite the American multi-national confectionery giant reporting profits of $548m (£450m) in its last three-month financial period. Mondelez, which bought Cadbury in 2010, said rising commodity costs combined with the slump in the value of the pound had made its products more expensive to make. Cadbury How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Mr Kipling cakes Premier Foods, the maker of Mr Kipling and Bisto gravy, said that it was considering price rises on a case-by-case basis Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Walkers Crisps Walkers, owned by US giant PepsiCo, said "the weakened value of the pound" is affecting the import cost of some of its materials. A Walkers spokesman told the Press Association that a 32g standard bag was set to increase from 50p to 55p, and the larger grab bag from 75p to 80p. Getty How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Marmite Tesco removed Marmite and other Unilever household brand from its website last October, after the manufacturer tried to raise its prices by about 10 per cent owing to sterling’s slump. Tesco and Unilever resolved their argument, but the price of Marmite has increased in UK supermarkets with the grocer reporting a 250g jar of Marmite will now cost Morrisons’ customers £2.64 - an increase of 12.5 per cent. Rex How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Toblerone Toblerone came under fire in November after it increased the space between the distinctive triangles of its bars. Mondelez International, the company which makes the product, said the change was made due to price rises in recent months. Pixabay How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Maltesers Maltesers, billed as the “lighter way to enjoy chocolate”, have also shrunk in size. Mars, which owns the brand, has reduced its pouch weight by 15 per cent. Mars said rising costs mean it had to make the unenviable decision between increasing its prices or reducing the weight of its Malteser packs. iStockphoto

May should have summoned her political courage – and statesmanship – and said something like this: “we have been through a divisive vote but the Government’s job is to respect the result. We will do so, however, in a way that safeguards the economy. So while Britain will leave the EU we will not jeopardise our existing trade links and we will build the closest possible relationship with our former partners.”

This is what a country like ours does – it takes decisions in a rational and unifying way. Not operating on the principle of “winner takes all” regardless of the consequences – and not on something so fundamental to Britain’s national interest where the country is evenly divided.

This is what Parliament’s role is in a democracy: to deliberate and weigh up the most sensible way to reflect public opinion.

Instead, May has gone full pelt to avoid any public debate about Britain’s options in Europe while rushing off to Washington to show we are not friendless.

No attempt has been made to generate goodwill amongst the people with whom we will negotiate. We are told by people who know her that Theresa May “doesn’t do” relationships. Fine, but it’s the whole country’s future she has in her hands, not just her backbenchers and the media fantasists she is being forced to indulge.

Tony Blair says the people must 'rise up' against Brexit

Brexit ministers are busy reassuring themselves that, when it comes down to it, EU negotiators will meet Britain’s demands because they have too much to lose. I would not bank on it. Just as politics are driving Britain’s negotiating position, politics will outweigh economics in the EU and their priority will be the safety and stability of their bloc.

Senior Tories argue that after a shaky start negotiations will settle down into a simple trade: money for access. In other words, we will get all the trade we want as long as we pay enough into the EU’s coffers.

They are deluding themselves. The single market operates on the basis of an agreed rulebook – standards of trade and regulations that every state abides by and which the European court enforces – and no amount of money will exempt Britain from playing by these rules and respecting the court’s role.

The Government promises to negotiate a settlement that delivers us, in the words of David Davis, the “exact same benefits” outside the single market and customs union as we currently enjoy inside. This is the biggest delusion of all as there is simply no alternative arrangement that could give us the same as membership provides now. Otherwise, what would be the point of membership?

Until the Government gets this they will not negotiate a deal that delivers the continuation of the trade we depend on in Europe.

When a deal is reached the country is entitled, either directly or through parliament, to pass judgement on what’s on offer. That’s what Tony Blair was arguing for in his speech and he is right to do so. I hope the House of Lords secures this right. If what replaces EU membership is a pale imitation of the benefits we have currently, we should have the chance to send the Government back to the negotiating table to secure a deal that gives us what we need.

This moment is some way off. But we should never lose sight of what’s at stake – not economic growth or inflation figures for this year or next but the country’s prosperity for decades to come.