Now two weeks on, referendum-related animosity has continued to loom large as the British electorate bicker about the narrow divide in national opinion.

Both major political parties are staring down the barrel of bitter leadership battles, with contenders’ approaches to Brexit at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Commentators, meanwhile, continue to question whether there is any way back from the vote that sealed the county’s future as independent from the EU.

Among one group of friends, however, discussions around the nation’s future have taken on a more pragmatic nature. The 16 and 17-year-olds of Trinity Sixth Form’s Student Leadership Team are, it would appear, able to hold a far more rational and reasonable debate than the majority of politicians managed throughout three months of EU campaigning.

Despite being unable to vote in the referendum, four of the 14 Carlisle pupils say they would have ticked Leave while the rest backed Remain. Yet while the debate occasionally becomes heated, the group are largely able to remain civil when discussing their opinions and feelings.

Here is what they had to say.

On not being able to vote:

“I don’t think 16-year-olds should be able to vote. I don’t think some have the ability – the economic and political understanding – to make those decisions.” Olly Bulman, 17 (Remain)

“I feel like the older you get, the less influenced you are by your parents. Maybe, at 16, you haven’t had the opportunity for your own opinions and perceptions to be changed.” Henry Taylor, 17 (Leave)

“I think we should have some say into it because it is the future for us. Most of the people that voted probably won’t be affected as much as we will be. It’s going to quite strongly impact on what happens for the next 20 years of our lives.” Chloe MacGregory, 16 (Remain)

“It’s our future that it’s affected in quite a big way, and we didn’t even get a say in it. We’re losing a lot of things we weren’t told we were going to lose. I feel like it’s my future that’s scuppered and it wasn’t even decided by me.” Stephanie Bierr, 17 (Remain)

On the outcome:

“I was happy with the decision, but I think it’s sad and I think it’s quite scary as well. The way the EU started, as a group of countries working together, it’s sad that it’s been made into something people feel we have to leave. So, while I think it’s the right decision, I don’t think it should be celebrated.” Henry Taylor, 17 (Leave)

“It was a complete shock. I don’t think you really realise the impact of the EU here in the UK until you’re made aware of how much it does for us. When you go on open days and you see EU-funded buildings, you start to get that perspective of what’s happening and what it will do to the country. I think it’s a really bad decision from that perspective.” Olly Bulman, 17 (Remain)

“I was in Durham recently looking at doing a year out in France as part of a foreign exchange system and they’re less sure how that will work now.” Nathan McStay, 17 (Remain)

“Both sides have to acknowledge the referendum itself was a bit of a mess. It was just a shouting match from both sides with little reasonable discussion from either.” Jacob Bie, 16 (Remain)

On suggestions the result may not be binding:

“I just think we need to get on with it really – stop going around in circles which we seem to be doing.” Ellie Parsons, 16 (Remain)

“If they do another vote, it’ll just be like doing the best of three. That’s what you do when you’re a kid. If you don’t win the first time, you just say ‘Let’s do it again until I win’.” Lily Wilson, 16 (Leave)

“The country’s made its decision, so let’s just get on with it and make the best of that decision. We need to work together.” Sam Ling, 17 (Leave)

“It seems that because Remain seemed more likely, some people voted Leave as a protest because they wanted reform and change. People shouldn’t be punished because they made a mistake.” Jacob Bie, 16 (Remain)

“A lot of people didn’t vote last time because they didn’t know better. Now that they’ve seen what’s happened because of the Leave result, they could have a more informed choice.

“Some people who voted Leave said they didn’t realise we were actually going to leave and they voted for reasons that they never should have.” Chloe MacGregory, 16 (Remain)

“I think it’s quite offensive to suggest people voted Leave because they’re thick.

“I think the amount of division the referendum has caused, I don’t think we need another one like that. We just need to be strong together and get on with it.” Henry Taylor, 17 (Leave)

“There’s no point in making this process any longer than it needs to be. They need to sort out this leadership stuff and get on with it because prolonging it is making it worse.” Stephanie Bierr, 17 (Remain)

“I think British people are pretty ‘grit your teeth and bear it’ so, sure people are mad about it, but we do live in a democracy. Whichever side wins the vote, you have to get on with it and stop whinging.” Alex Campbell, 17 (Leave)

On the future:

“I think we’ve got to be a lot more careful about the type of language we use around debates like this. I think accusing your friend of being racist or uneducated – and there are similar things said by the Leave side about Remain voters – it’s shocking. I think in the future we need to be more careful about the stigma we could be creating.” Henry Taylor, 17 (Leave)

“We need to work out our trading links as quickly as possible, that has to be a priority, because the pound has been falling.” James Atkinson, 17 (Remain)

“There’s been a rise in racism, that was always there before, but now people think they have the right to say it, telling people to go home. .” Lauren Medley, 17 (Remain)

“I’m worried that we’re not going to have a strong enough government. Whoever’s in power has to lead us through getting out and negotiate us through.” Henry Taylor, 17 (Leave)

“I worry that the views of the people who wanted to Remain won’t be part of the negotiations.

“They obviously had good reasons they want to stay, but I think the Leave leaders will focus on what they want rather than what everyone wants and needs. I think both sides need to start working together now.” Stephanie Bierr, 17 (Remain)

“Now that we’re not within the EU, and don’t have that support network, we have no choice but to try and make ourselves strong together. Even if we disagree, we have to work for a compromise better than we have already.” Chloe MacGregory, 16 (Remain)