THE die is cast, the votes counted and the can of worms is well and truly open.

When and if the remaining parts of the blatantly dis-United Kingdom leave the potentially sinking ship of the European Union, what will the true cost of this decision be?

It is doubtful if 'Bungling Buffoon, Boris' ever imagined that the UK would vote leave. More likely he was making a play for the leadership off the austerity-addicted Conservatives. Not in his worst nightmares did he imagine he would be responsible for cleaning up the mess that he and conspirators in the media and from everyone’s favourite protest party UKIP had created.

It was a very risky tactic using the immigration card to play on the fears of the masses. It has stirred up racial hatred and fear and is, in truth, based on lies. Net benefits from the overwhelmingly hard-working and honest immigrant population far outweigh the deficits.

The wounds opened by this divisive narrative will take years to heal and the worst is yet to come. Many wrong-thinking right-wingers have seen the result as a green light to unleash the worst excesses of the un-empathic and deluded who believe they now have the democratic mandate to act out their fascist fantasies.

If the unstable house of the European Union doesn’t suffer a domino effect of further opt-outs this shockwave will force it to consider a radical rethink on the bureaucracy and waste which have been notable failings. These, however, are outweighed by aspirations and achievements that make its existence credible.

Workers' rights, civil laws and freedoms are not the agenda of many Brexiters. They, more likely, are motivated by their perceived freedom to exploit the very people who supported the Out campaign, yet ensuring there will always be enough willing and able immigrants to exploit to do the jobs many of the working class won’t do.

What will happen when the masses realise they have been fooled again? When it dawns on them that Boris and his buddies were only interested in their own agenda with a fundamental disconnect with the majority of the population? When they realise that money is their priority, not the needs of the many and when the money promised to the NHS from ceased EU contributions is redirected to bail out Boris’ banking buddies? The same NHS that they want to privatise in order to further capitalise off the backs of the less fortunate.

Conversely, the effect of so many being motivated to join the political debate should be a good thing. Time will tell if the masses awake from their passive non-engagement and translate their new-found voices into voting for a humane, progressive society with a focus on equality. That could be another unexpected and unplanned outcome.

The parliamentary Labour party fares no better. In opposing the democratic will of the majority of Labour Party members from the second Corbyn was elected they do themselves and those they represent a great disservice by behaving so divisively.

However, honour amongst politicians is a forlorn hope. The likes of Jo Cox were few and far between in the toxic den of serpents that is the 'Mother of all Parliaments’. Well, this mother better take better care of her offspring before the disaffected children bring down the house around her ears.

There are going to be enough challenges ahead without the unwelcome addition of civil unrest but, without doubt, if this country does not make social cohesion one of its main priorities the likelihood of many forms of civil disobedience are inevitable, from strikes to outright riots.

Some may think this perspective is somewhat alarmist. However, the cost of not heading off such possibilities is foolhardy. Almost as foolhardy as believing a word that dear old Boris utters.