Britain has voted to leave the European Union with 51.8 per cent.The outcome of the referendum however showed that while England voted overwhelmingly for Brexit, Scotland and Northern Ireland backed favored continuation as part of EU. 17,410,742 persons voted to leave compared to 16,141,241 for Remain.
A record number of Britons, almost 46.5 million, were registered to vote, and over 33.5 million cast ballots. In Scotland, where results were reported earlier than elsewhere, an overwhelming majority voted to Remain.
However, in England, where about 84% of the U.K.’s population of almost 65 million people live, the vote to leave was stronger in most areas. London was the outlier, with most boroughs voting to Remain.
As initial results trickled in indicating a likely Leave vote, the sterling slid dramatically against the dollar, and stocks in Asian markets saw volatility with investors concerned about the effects of a “Brexit.”
The Bank of England put out a statement Friday morning, June 24, saying it would take “all necessary steps” to guarantee economic stability in the wake of the vote.
