The results are in: the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union after voters sounded off in a historic referendum. Despite early polls indicating a narrow lead for the “Remain” camp, the “Leave” camp came out triumphant. Here’s how British leaders, world leaders, and the people are reacting.
Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron, who was the leading voice for Remain, announced he’d resign his position and made a statement outside 10 Downing Street today.
“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,” Cameron said. “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.”
Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, was one of the leading voices in the Leave camp.
“Dare to dream that the dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom,” he said at a press conference.
We've left behind a failed political union. We can now rejoin the world as an independent, self-governing nation.https://t.co/oqMbzLWhqO
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 24, 2016
Boris Johnson, former London mayor and another leading voice in the Leave camp, called the results a “glorious opportunity.”
.@BorisJohnson says Britain's #EUref vote is a "glorious opportunity" for it to find its "voice in the world again" https://t.co/cwziQL5LgS
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 24, 2016
German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the decision a “watershed” moment. “There is no way around it. This is a blow to Europe.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks about the EU after #Brexit vote https://t.co/R8ojFvcyTX#EURefResultspic.twitter.com/nRBdqGt2FA
— CNN (@CNN) June 24, 2016
Brandon Cox, husband of Jo Cox, the British MP who was slain last week after being a vocal supporter of the Remain camp, sounded off on Twitter as well.
Today Jo wld have remained optimistic & focussed on what she cld do to bring our country back together around our best values #MoreInCommon
— Brendan Cox (@MrBrendanCox) June 24, 2016
In the U.S., President Obama issued a short statement and said the decision won’t affect our country’s “special relationship” with the UK.
Pres Obama issues statement on Brexit vote: "The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 24, 2016
Presidential candidate Donald Trump, traveling in Scotland for personal business, was quick to sound off. Despite the majority of Scots voting for Remain, he congratulated the country.
Just arrived in Scotland. Place is going wild over the vote. They took their country back, just like we will take America back. No games!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2016
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon vowed to see independance once again from the United Kingdom, saying it would be “democratically unacceptable” for Scotland to leave the EU when the majority of voters wanted to remain.
Watch @NicolaSturgeon give her statement in response to the #EUref result. #indyref2https://t.co/JzsyQW81E2
— The SNP (@theSNP) June 24, 2016
Other folks on Twitter had a lot of say about the decision as well.
Britian, this was a bad decision because the admin won't let you back in now... #Brexit#groupchat#ignorantpic.twitter.com/iPsxawefo1
— Sa.ran (@SatguruSaran1) June 24, 2016
HOW AGES VOTED
— Ben Riley-Smith (@benrileysmith) June 23, 2016
(YouGov poll)
18-24: 75% Remain
25-49: 56% Remain
50-64: 44% Remain
65+: 39% Remain#EUref
You may now panic and/or freak out.#BrexitOrNotpic.twitter.com/3begCpNAkR
— Karl Kovacs (@karlkovacs) June 24, 2016