UK votes to leave the EU

Britain has voted to leave the European Union, by 52 per cent to 48 per cent, in a referendum that has shaken British politics.

The result was declared on the morning of 24 June. Within hours, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, announced that he would resign.

The result

More than 17.4 million people voted to leave, and 16.1 million voted to remain. Turnout was 72 per cent, the highest at a UK-wide vote since 1992.

England and Wales voted to leave, while Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain. London voted strongly to remain.

Birmingham voted to leave by the narrowest of margins, with 50.4 per cent backing Leave.

Cameron to go

Cameron, who called the referendum and campaigned to remain, said the country needed fresh leadership. He said he would stay on until a new Conservative leader is chosen, expected by October, and that his successor should begin the formal process of leaving.

Markets fall

The pound fell to its lowest level against the dollar since 1985, and shares fell sharply when markets opened. The Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, said the Bank was ready to act to support the financial system.

Leave campaign celebrates

Leave campaigners, led by figures including Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and the UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, celebrated the result. Farage said it was Britain's independence day.

The Leave campaign argued that Britain should take back control of its laws, borders and money.

Scotland

Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said a second referendum on Scottish independence was now highly likely, because Scotland faced being taken out of the EU against its will.

What happens next

To leave the EU, Britain must trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which begins a two-year negotiation. The terms of Britain's future relationship with the EU, including trade and immigration, will need to be agreed.

European leaders have expressed their regret at the result and called for negotiations to begin quickly.

A divided country

The referendum campaign was bitter and divisive, and the result has revealed deep divisions between young and old, cities and towns, and different parts of the UK.