The idea of organising a Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit was first floated in November 2016. The UK electorate had voted to leave the European Union, but the formal withdrawal process set out in Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty had not yet been triggered. Big questions remained about the form that Brexit might take. Few people, whatever their view of Brexit, had been impressed by the quality of debate during the referendum campaign, and there was a strong desire to find a way of fostering more informed and considered decision-making in the next phase of the Brexit process.