The battle for Brexit is over; now to win the peace, by Greg Sheridan.

The battle for Brexit is over. Now the important battle to determine the meaning of Brexit has begun.

Everyone in the world will have a stake in this: the British and ­Europeans first, but Australians too. When bureaucrats want to frustrate a democratic decision, they first delay its implementation then destroy its legitimacy, often by discrediting the motives or competence of decision-makers.

If the Brexit vote can be characterised as racist, ignorant, irresponsible and a retreat from liberalism, then the response to it, especially by Europeans, can be much tougher and more punitive than if it is seen as a peaceful democratic decision, taken conscientiously, in a historically large turnout, after exhaustive debate.