The referendum was not legally binding.

It would have been untenable, however, for a government to defy the will of the people as expressed in the referendum.

I have no desire to re-hash this particular argument, but the margin, 48/52 was very small. Very close to 50/50. And the turnout wasn't perfect. I've heard that only something like 30% of the eligible voters voted to leave.

There was no "will of the people". The people were undecided.

And then there's the fact that Britons settled in Europe didn't have a vote.

Whatever you can say about voting rights for overseas citizens in general elections, this vote was explicitly removing rights that they are currently exercising as part of EU membership — arguably they are the most affected by the outcome, yet were disenfranchised.

Indeed, it's frustrating to see it constantly said that the "decisive will of the British people" has spoken!

> It would have been untenable, however, for a government to defy the will of the people as expressed in the referendum.

I may have missed something but at no point was anything resembling the current 'plan' ever put forward to be considered as 'the will of the people'.