Nigel Farage
(LONDON) – In a historic vote, voters in Britain voted to leave the European Union. 52% voted to leave, 48% to remain. While England and Wales voted for Brexit, Scotland, Northern Ireland and London backed staying in the EU.
Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, said it was the UK’s “independence day”. However, the Remain side said it was a “catastrophe”.
Markets reacted to the result, with the pound falling to its lowest level against the dollar for 30 years.
30 million people voted in the referendum, on a turnout of 71.8%. This was the highest turnout at a UK election since 1992.
Around Europe, politicians have reacted with dismay at the result. The news was truly sobering, said the German foreign minister Frank Walter Steinmeier, and “a sad day for Europe and Great Britain”.
And with euro-scepticism on the rise across the European continent, far-right parties in other European countries are now demanding their own referendums to leave the EU.
Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Front, said the French should now have the right to choose, Dutch anti-immigration politician Geert Wilders said the Dutch should have a ‘Nexit’ vote, and Italy’s Northern League calling for its own turn.
Prime minister David Cameron is now likely to announce his resignation.
Other consequences could now be a renewed push from Scotland – which wants to remain in the EU, for independence from the United Kingdom.
The UK has also been warned it will lose its triple a rating.
