UK Votes To Leave EU In Historic Referendum

UK Votes To Leave EU In Historic Referendum

Sky News

The UK has voted to leave the European Union in the historic referendum, official results show.

The Out campaign passed the winning post with a lead of more than 1 million votes - a margin of 52% to 48%

The pound plummeted to a 31 year low as the market responded to the prospect of the UK splitting from Brussels after 43 years.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage hailed the victory for the Leave camp as "our independence day".

The outcome plunges into doubt the future of the Prime Minister David Cameron, who called the referendum, with some of his own backbenchers openly raising the possibility of a general election. It follows a brutal, deeply-divisive campaign, which saw bitter "blue-on-blue" attacks.

More than 80 pro-Brexit Tory MPs, including Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, had signed a letter backing Mr Cameron to stay in Downing Street. However, other rebels are likely to question whether Mr Cameron, who passionately advocated staying in the EU, is best placed to negotiate the UK's departure from the bloc.

Labour has already said he should "seriously consider his position" if Leave won, while Mr Farage said he should quit "immediately".

The result has also seen Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pave the way for a second independence referendum. She argued the EU vote "makes clear that the people of Scotland see their future as part of the European Union" after all 32 local authority areas north of the border returned majorities for Remain.

Sinn Fein has also said Brexit should lead to a poll on Irish unity, after Northern Ireland voted by 56% to 44% to Remain.

The EU vote exposed splits across the UK, with Leave performing strongly in the English shires, Wales and north eastern towns and cities like Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool. At the same time, Remain secured decisive majorities in London, Scotland and Northern Ireland.