Prime Minister David Cameron will step down after the UK voted to leave the EU by a majority of 51.9%.
The divisive campaign is over and the votes have been counted. The UK will no longer be part of the EU. The result has come has quite a shock, with exit polls predicting a victory for the Remain campaign. In total, 17,410,742 voted in favour of leaving the EU and 16,141,241 voted for remaining.
The surprise result was unexpectedly met with strong and opposing reactions, with many taking to Twitter to express their polarising views.
I don’t think I’ve ever wanted magic more. https://t.co/gVNQ0PYIMT
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 24, 2016
I can’t get my head around what’s happening in Britain.I’m so sorry to the youth of Britain. I fear you’ve been let down today x
— James Corden (@JKCorden) June 24, 2016
I’ve been crying since Swindon, not even joking https://t.co/2jAA4PGtvs
— lily (@lilyallen) June 24, 2016
It’s not a time for triumphalism. Not a time for division. Not a time for hatred. It’s a time for change. A time for calm. A time in history
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 24, 2016
There’s no use crying over spilt milk. We’ll just ave to mek the best of it!
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) June 24, 2016
This morning, Prime Minister David Cameron stood outside Number 10 next to his wife and said,
“The will of the British people is an instruction that must be delivered.”
The Prime Minister had campaigned hard to keep the UK in the EU by arguing that leaving the EU would be an act of “economic self-harm”. He added,
“I was absolutely clear about my belief that Britain is stronger, safer and better off inside the EU. I made clear the referendum was about this, and this alone, not the future of any single politician, including myself. But the British people made a different decision to take a different path. As such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction.”
Nicola Sturgeon has said that a second Scottish referendum is “highly likely” as the Scottish voted overwhelmingly in favour of staying in the EU.
The process of choosing Cameron’s successor will now begin. The Tory MPs will select a two-person shortlist, which will then be presented to the party’s members in order to reach a final decision. Boris Johnson, who was a key figurehead of the leave campaign is now widely seen as the most likely successor to the Prime Minister.
