A s shock waves from the unexpected British vote to leave the European Union reverberated through the world's stockmarkets yesterday, there was probably no better time to put into practice the very English phrase of "keep calm and carry on".
While it would have been a more predictable and sensible decision for the British  voters to choose to remain in the EU, their decision will not cause the end of the world as we know it.
The market response was, in some places, akin to the global financial crisis.
Hopefully, the panic will settle and it will be realised that "Brexit" is not a crisis on that scale.
The plunges in markets such as Australia's should correct in the short term.
Time will tell if it is a good or bad result for Britain in the long term. Much of the outcome will be influenced by the manner in which Britain  withdraws from Europe and the kind of relationship that evolves in its place.
Indeed, not every sensible Australian commentator views the Brexit choice as a negative one.
Some see potential advantage for Australia in the breakdown of trade relationships between Britain  and Europe. Britain may be looking to forge closer trade ties with other nations and, given the kinship of our two countries, Australia could be in the box seat for new deals.
Former prime minister John Howard said earlier this year that Britain should leave, declaring the EU a "fundamentally flawed concept" that threatens the sovereignty of member nations. 
There is no good reason why the British vote should influence our Federal election next Saturday but it will probably play into fears about Labor's economic policies.
The financial details of Labor's plans for spending, debt and deficits deserve close scrutiny - with or without Brexit.