I have been watching the political elite destroy my faith in government, politics and democracy.

As someone who served this country, and as a citizen, I feel personally betrayed by the country and its politicians.

I was given a chance, like the rest of us, to map out the future of our country by way of referendum.

I remember really feeling that I had an opportunity to be a part of history and, yes, I voted leave and felt great the morning of the result that I had made a difference.

Now I feel that If the main political parties do not get a very rude awakening in the next rounds of elections on every level then many people will never trust them or vote again.

The Democratic Unionist Party had no choice but to vote against the Government, it would be political if not literal suicide for Unionist politian’s in Ulster to vote for anything that could break up the UK. The Unionist community cannot look to Westminster for protection when the prime minister, who is supposed to be the leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party, send them a Northern Ireland Secretary who did not know the people in the province vote on sectarian lines. It shows contempt for Ulster by our ruling political class.

If a South American country had an election and the Government decided not to accept the democratic outcome, we, the British, would be up in arms and demanding UN sanctions on that country.

It is no longer about the referendum result but about democracy and the future.

Many people have said to me that they will never vote again.

All I can say is please think again because if you do not vote the political ruling class will continue to treat us with contempt.

Stuart Greaves

Ashprington