What 2% of the electorate means in US and British Elections

Highly significant 2% majority in the Brexit vote mirrors the winning margin in Hillary Clinton's totally irrelevant popular vote.

The winning margin in the EU referendum was Remain 48.1%, Leave 51.9%. In the Brexit vote that difference translates, in the eyes of the tabloid media, into a change of government and massive mandate for change run by the most extreme faction of the winning side. Should a democratically elected Parliament , or even a judge, seek to question this 2 % majority they are branded "ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE" in rabid newspaper headlines.

In the US Election, as absentee ballots trickle in, so far the numbers show Clinton obtained 48.2 percent of the popular vote, compared with Trump's 46.1 percent. In the US system, actually decided by the Electoral College, that roughly similar majority (approximately 2.9 million voters in the US), means absolutely nothing, as they are in states not considered significant by the US electoral system (which the Democratic Party was fully aware of before, having lost an election for the same reason in 2000).

I hardly need to add the other significant stat here is that both of these votes went the way of ruthless right wing populist parties while the centre left opposition collapsed (yet again) like nice well meaning blancmange.

Everyone knew the voting rules going in and if you don't like them now, tough. Take your problems to the next democratic vote, assuming you can actually be bothered to vote this time.