Many comments to this and similar articles show faulty thinking about the place of plebiscites (for that is really what the Brexit referendum was) under a parliamentary system of government.

A plebiscite is simply a snapshot of the public's collective opinion at a particular point in time on the question posed.  By contrast, the House of Commons is constitutionally charged with deciding issues of the day requiring legislation and acts on behalf of the nation as circumstances change from time to time.

Few Brits contemplated a hard Brexit (certainly not most of those leading the YES campaign) during the campaign and Brexit vote.  It is now, however, the political duty of the UK Government to develop policy and for Parliament to accept or reject that policy in light of current needs and circumstances (which may be very different from those of last year).

The Referendum outcome is politically relevant but not legally binding on the UK's MPs and Parliament.