The United Kingdom (UK) has voted on Thursday 24th of June 2016 to leave the European Union after 43 years in a historic referendum.
In the final results announced at Manchester Town Hall, the Leave side led with 17.4 million votes, which made 52 percent, versus the Remain side’s 16.1 million, that made up 48 percent.
The turnout was around 72 percent of the British population.
The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain, is a sovereign island country located off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe consisting of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – the four constituent countries.
Northern Ireland shares a completely porous border with Ireland, which is in the European Union.
The Scottish prime minister has said that a leave vote could trigger a referendum vote in Scotland to leave Britain. Scots rejected independence in a referendum in September 2014 by 55 percent to 45 percent.
London, along with Scotland, led the vote to remain in the European Union, though the east side of the city voted to leave.
The majority of Wales voted strongly to leave, except for the largest city Cardiff, which voted to remain by 60 percent.
How Britain voted in the E.U referendum
- Britain voters population mean 64.1, Remain 48% Leave 52%
- England voters population mean 53.0, Remain 47% Leave 53%
- London voters population mean 8.5, Remain 60% Leave 40%
- Scotland voters population mean 5.3, Remain 62% Leave 38%
- Wales voters population mean 3.0, Remain 48% Leave 53%
- N. Ireland voters population mean 1.8, Remain 56% Leave 44%
There were 33,577,342 votes cast with Remain securing 16,141,241 votes and Leave 17,410,742.
United Kingdom Independent party (UKlP) leader Nigel Farage hailed it as the UK’s “independence day” but the Remain camp called it a “catastrophe”.
The referendum turnout was 71.8% – with more than 30 million people voting, this is so far the highest turnout at a UK election since 1992.
Reactions around the world
David Cameron has resigned as Prime Minister after Britain voted to LEAVE the European Union.
Following the result Prime Minister David Cameron announced he was stepping down, and that his replacement would be in place before October.
The pound has plummeted against the dollar and euro and £122bn was wiped off the value of the FTSE 100 companies in first 10 minutes of trading.
United Kingdom Independent party (UKlP) leader Nigel Farage hailed it as the UK’s “independence day” declared this morning: “Let June 23 go down in our history as our independence day”.
The US President Barack Obama on his reaction to the results said: “We respect their decision. The UK and the European Union will remain indispensable partners of the US.”
International Monetary Fund (IMF), boss Christine Lagarde has urged the authorities in the UK and Brussels to work on a “smooth transition” to a new relationship amid fears about the economic impact of Brexit.
Ms. Lagarde backed decisions by the Bank of England and European Central Bank to take action to “curtail excess financial volatility” following the referendum result.
She said the IMF would continue to monitor the situation and “support our members as needed”.
Chancellor George Osborne, the Mp for Tatoon has said the vote for a Brexit was “not the outcome I wanted,” adding that he respected the decision of British people and “will do all I can to make it work”
The USA Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump said it is a “great thing” that the people of the UK have “taken back their country” in voting to leave the EU.
This decision will affect UK since EU will now put business restrictions in its dealings with UK.
He added a meeting of its 27 members has been scheduled in the EU chambers.
Charles Michel who is the prime minister of Belgium has stated that it’s important for EU members to think about the fate of its union.
President of the European government Martin Schulz urged people to respect the results of the referendum since its normal for UK to take its lane.
Party leader of the Holland freedom party Geert Widers has congratulated the UK and said its time for them to hold an opinion poll.
On the hand Ireland government has said that these results are important to UK and promised to have a meeting with them on the same.
This decision has also been supported by leaders of France whereby the leader of Far-ringt Front National (FN) Marine Le Pen showed support insisting that France together with other European nations need to do an opinion poll. Politician of French FN, Marion Marechal Le Pen said that it’s important for France to embrace democracy hence freedom to choose.