WEB DESK /
The United Kingdom has voted by 52% to 48% to leave the European Union after 43 years in an historic referendum, according to British media reports.
London and Scotland voted strongly to stay in the EU but the remain vote has been undermined by poor results in the north of England.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage hailed the result as the UK’s “independence day”. The pound fell to its lowest level against the dollar since 1985 as the markets reacted to the results.
There was 71.8% turn out in the referendum- with more than 30 million people voting – the highest turnout at a UK election since 1992.
Wales and the majority of England outside London voted in large numbers for Brexit.
Labour’s Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the Bank of England may have to intervene to shore up the pound, which lost 3% within moments of the first result showing a strong result for Leave in Sunderland and fell as much as 6.5% against the euro.
“this will be a victory for ordinary people, for decent people”, said UKIP leader Nigel Farage – who has campaigned for the past 20 years for Britain to leave the EU.
Mr Farage – who predicted a Remain win at the start of the night after polls suggested that would happen – said Thursday 23 June would “go down in history as our independence day”.