Sebastian Wood: Yes. The House of Commons promised voters that they would carry out their decision regarding membership of the EU. The government must act accordingly, otherwise we undermine democracy in Great Britain. We will leave the EU.

Former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and John Major speak of a “tyranny of the majority”. 48 percent of the British people were against the Brexit. Isn’t that a good reason to put the details of an exit into a second referendum?

Wood: Those who voted for the Brexit won by more than a million votes; it was quite a lead. This is the political reality.

What kind of EU do the British people want to see?

Wood: Because we have made the decision to leave, this question is not our primary responsibility anymore. But it is of course in our interest that the EU remains successful and strong and is not weakened by our exit. In our remaining time as a member, we will try to push for a more open and competitively viable EU.

Where do you see the necessity for reforms in Brussels?

Wood: The dominant theme in the Brexit campaign was immigration or free movement of people. Our message is that we need more control in this area. At the same time, it is important to respect the interests of our partners. We should view the negotiations as a cooperation.

Are you worried about the possible financial consequences after a Brexit?

Wood: The Prime Minister made clear that we are an open nation. Globalization, however leads to resistance amongst the population. That’s the reason why we have to reshape our politics. For centuries, we have been one of the most open economies and that’s how we want to keep it.