GETTY David Attenborough claims British people should not have been allowed to vote for Brexit

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The TV naturalist said the 17.4million British people who voted to leave the crumbling bloc have helped create a situation he describes as a "mess". The broadcaster argued the decision over whether the UK should remain in the EU should have been left to MPs, who could have voted on behalf of the electorate.

Sir David told the Radio Times: "What we mean by Parliamentary democracy is surely that we find someone we respect who we think is probably wiser than we are, who is prepared to take the responsibility of pondering difficult things and then trust him or her to vote on our behalf.” Chiming in on immigration, Sir David said: "It’s very easy, as we all know, to be very tolerant of minorities until they become majorities… you find they’re actually telling you what to do and they’ve actually taken over the town council and what you thought was your home isn’t. I’m not supporting it, I’m saying it’s what it is."

GETTY Sir David believes MPS should have been able to vote on behalf of the people

There’s confusion, isn’t there, between populism and parliamentary democracy. I mean, that’s why we’re in the mess we are with Brexit, is it not? Do we really want to live by this kind of referendum? David Attenborough

The 90-year-old also raised concerns about the public's preference for popularism over expert opinion when it comes to current affairs. Referring to Donald Trump's prominence in the US, the BBC star said: "There’s confusion, isn’t there, between populism and parliamentary democracy. "I mean, that’s why we’re in the mess we are with Brexit, is it not? Do we really want to live by this kind of referendum?" He cited Ken Clarke's recently published political memoir, in which the former lord chancellor claims that if people were asked whether they'd like a National Gallery or a funfair, they'd vote for the funfair.

Sir David Attenborough in pictures Sun, May 8, 2016 English broadcaster and naturalist, the absolute legend that is Sir David Attenborough, a look through his best pictures. Play slideshow PA 1 of 66 Sir David Attenborough turns 90

GETTY The broadcaster believes voters are more influenced by popularism than expert opinion