Just as here in Great Britain, one of the striking elements of the American political system – which continues to inspire democracies around the world – is how peaceful transitions of power take place from one presidency to another.
I am writing this column having just watched President Obama and Hillary Clinton speak on the outcome of the recent presidential election and Donald Trump’s victory.
Their messages of acceptance, decorum and patriotism represented what is right in a democratic system – even if much of the tone of the campaign was anything but.
This is in stark contrast to an ever-decreasing number of people in our own country, who seem intent on overturning the referendum on EU membership.
Obama and Clinton are not calling for another election, or asking for the Electoral College to overturn it – they have accepted the result and will work with cross-party colleagues in the national interest.
Over the last fortnight I have received a number of emails regarding the recent High Court judgment concerning how the UK will invoke of Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon to leave the European Union.
The court was deciding on how we leave the EU, not whether we should or not. That particular campaign is over – and the majority of voters in Crawley and across the country chose to leave.
I understand the disappointment felt by some – in 2005 I finished second in the General Election in Crawley, losing by just 37 votes. As difficult as I found this outcome, I knew that I did not secure enough votes to win and so of course accepted the result.
While there are some who are intent on stoking division and trying to rerun the campaign which ended on 23rd June, it is important that those continuing to fight the campaign take note of what moderates on both sides have done, and work with the Government to ensure our country gets the best deal from leaving the EU.
I will continue to use my position as Crawley’s MP to ensure that the democratic decision in the referendum – the largest ever mandate in British history – is respected and followed through.