AS you might expect, the focus in Parliament this week is on the consequences of last week’s referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.

Like 70 per cent of voters in Dudley South, I voted for Britain to leave but I was absolutely clear that – whichever way the result went – all sides had to respect the result of the referendum.

Technically, referenda in the UK are not legally-binding.

However, it would be democratically unacceptable for MPs, or anyone else, to thwart the result of a vote of the electorate.

I have had some emails asking me to support having a second referendum to try to reverse the result of the first, or for MPs to just ignore the result, and a similar number of emails opposing such a move.

I can understand why a lot of people are experiencing emotions more commonly associated with grief and bereavement – denial, anger, bargaining depression – following the result.

It is a huge change – perhaps the biggest change in international politics since the fall of communism – and it is nervous that many people are upset or scared.

However, whichever way each of us voted last week, we all now need to work for the future. Now the campaign is over, none of us is now a “Leaver”

or a “Remainer”; we all need to be “Implementers”, respecting the result and making it work for the best for our country.

My Party is now in the process of choosing a new leader, following David Cameron’s resignation.

Conservative MPs will have to choose two candidates for Conservative Party members to choose from. Amongst the people likely to put their names forward are Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Stephen Crabb and Liam Fox.

I would be interested to hear who you would like to see – or not like to see – as the next Conservative Party leader and as Prime Minister. Please email me at mikej.wood.mp@parliament.uk.

Of course I am continuing to work across Dudley South, meeting with local businesses, schools and community organisations and doing what I can to help people with their problems.

I have a “supermarket surgery” in Sainsbury’s Merry Hill this Friday afternoon. If you have anything you would like to discuss – or just have a chat – pop by between 2-4pm. You don’t need an appointment.

Finally, a big congratulations to all of the pupils and staff at the Kingswinford School for their fantastic production of Little Shop of Horrors.

I went to see it last Friday and was amazed at how professional it was, with such excellent acting, singing and choreography.

Mike Wood MP