[Windcatcher]

Question: is the vote binding, or in the event that Leave wins, can the pols just say, “screw you, we’re staying”?

[Publius]

The vote is not binding, but only advisory. Even if the people vote Leave, it would take several years to accomplish the disengagement from the EU, and the politicians could easily ignore the vote.

If Cameron openly defies a Leave vote, I would respectfully suggest that the Queen prorogue Parliament and call for new elections.

[UKrepublican]

In theory yes they could - but chances of that are next to nothing.