"The people" did not tell them to do this. It's not like it was unanimous. 48% of those who voted voted to Remain 52% of those who voted voted to Leave 28% of

"The people" did not tell them to do this. It's not like it was unanimous. 48% of those who voted voted to Remain 52% of those who voted voted to Leave 28% of the electorate didn't bother to vote But "the will of the people", "the people have spoken". A good few million didn't bother to say anything at all (I do not find myself thinking generously of this at all, it was the most important vote most of us will ever see), and the gap between leave and remain is a hardly-unanimous 4%. If this was representative, nearly half the MPs should be arguing against leaving the EU. But as you say, few MPs want to say it because they're terrified they're going to lose their jobs next election.