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1/ Leavers have been told that a referendum victory makes all opposition to Brexit an attack on the democratic will of the people, thus demonising those of us exercising our normal democratic right to oppose Brexit as enemies of the people.
2/ So by portraying opponents of Brexit as enemies the "Will of the People" rhetoric sets up the struggle over Brexit not as a struggle within a democratic community united by shared rules, but as a war against anti-democratic enemies.
3/ So Leavers don't care that we think them hypocrites who would be outraged if Corbyn prorogued Parliament. They see the struggle over Brexit as a war in which rules don't apply. We are their enemies, not political opponents in a common rule-governed democratic community.
4/ Once you are engaged in war then violations of laws, rules and moral norms become far more acceptable so long as they harm the enemy and lead towards victory. That is one reason why many Leavers are not troubled that they were lied to. In war there can be good lies.
5/ Of course this is a disaster for democracy, because once people are consumed by this war mentality, they become prey to the rhetoric of the strong leader who promises victory no matter how. The rules and principles of law and democracy become meaningless except as slogans.
