Brexit seeps its poison into every family, age group, class and region. Parliament is a mirror image of national disunity. None of us can escape the transcending issue of our time.

On Thursday I have a vote. I am not a natural abstainer. I did, however, do just that in the last mayoral elections. I simply could not vote for a Conservative candidate campaigning to undermine London’s position as Europe’s premier financial centre.

Many months ago I warned that a lot of Conservatives would never vote for a Brexit party. In the inevitable outcry I was accused of every sort of treachery. My opinion stands but now the evidence is incontrovertible. I have already made it clear that I will not vote Conservative but this