Britain referendum results: David Cameron to step down as PM in October

The British Prime Minister David Cameron said in an address that the country will need a new Prime Minister by October as he will continue only for the next three months.

The results from Thursday’s landmark referendum gives an outcome that sets the country on an uncertain path and deals the largest setback to European efforts to forge greater unity since World War Two.

FACTBOX | What Brexit could mean for the UK economy

Watch | Making sense of Brexit

World financial markets dived as nearly complete results showed a 51.8/48.2 percent split for leaving. Sterling suffered its biggest one-day fall of more than 10 percent against the dollar, hitting a 31-year low on market fears the decision will hit investment in the world’s 5th largest economy.

Many have started to call for Prime Minister David Cameron’s resignation.

Also Read | Brexit vote: EU is still doomed, says UKIP’s Farage

The victory may also trigger a referendum for independence in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Also Read | Brexit referendum: Finance Minister Jaitley says wait for full results

Here are the highlights on the counting:

1246 hrs IST: The British Prime Minister David Cameron addressed the people at 0827 hrs GMT. Excerpts: “Views of the British people must be respected. I fought this campaign how I felt about it directly and passionately, I held nothing back…I was absolutely clear in my belief that Britain was stronger and safer in the European Union. But the British people have made a very clear decision to leave the European Union…I will continue on my post as PM for the next three months but we need a new PM by October. I’ve said before that Britain can survive outside of the EU and the weak will find a way to survive.”

1150 hrs IST: British Prime Minister David Cameron to give his statement at 0800 hours GMT.

1148 hrs IST: The final results have come in with “Leave” winning at 52%.

1141 hrs IST: The Guardian reports that the Bank of England has issued a statement in the morning, which said: “The Bank of England is monitoring developments closely. It has undertaken extensive contingency planning and is working closely with HM Treasury, other domestic authorities and overseas central banks. The Bank of England will take all necessary steps to meet its responsibilities for monetary and financial stability.”

1135 hrs IST: RBI watching all markets, including currencies, and will provide liquidity wherever necessary, says RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan on Brexit impact

1103 hrs IST: The Guardian reports that Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has told ITV’s Good Morning Britain that he thought it was a mistake for the Vote Leave campaign to say that it could save £350m a week by leaving the EU and that the money could go to the National Health Service.

1030 hrs IST: UK decides to leave the European Union in historic referendum.

1019 hrs IST: Calls for Prime Minister David Cameron’s resignation begin as Britain votes to ‘leave’ European Union.

Also Read | EU Referendum: Sterling, stocks hammered as UK on brink of Brexit

1018 hrs IST: The Guardian is also reporting that the fall in Pound is now worse than Black Wednesday

1012 hrs IST: Ahead with a big lead already, BBC reports that the “Leave” needs 308,519 more votes to win the EU referendum.

1002 hrs IST: As the counting of votes in the EU referendum comes to a close with only 14 constituencies left to declare, region wise, only London, Northern Ireland, and Scotland have voted to “Remain” in the European Union.

Also Read | South Korea says it will take market stabilisation measures as needed on UK results

0951 hrs IST: Northern Ireland’s verdict, which has given victory to the “Remain” camp, raises questions about its borders and corporate tax rate, reports the Guardian. “As the Irish Nobel laureate WB Yeats put it, albeit about another momentous event 100 years ago, the 1916 Rising, all is changed utterly on the island of Ireland,” it said.

0946 hrs IST: On the after effects of the EU referendum, the victory of which seems to be falling in the “Leave” camp’s lap, the Guardian reports that this victory will trigger celebrations but also “resignations by party leaders, a second independence referendum in Scotland and even a snap general election.”

0944 hrs IST: Analysing the results, the Guardian reports that “the strongest predictor of how an area would vote is the education level of the residents. So far the results indicate that greater the proportion of residents with a higher education, the more likely a local authority was to vote remain.”

0942 hrs IST: Leeds gives a 50-50 result to both camps.

0941 hrs IST: Cameron’s exit will be ‘dignified’, not ‘immediate’, reports say.

Am being told that Cameron and Osborne are finished. There will be a “dignified exit” say senior Tories. “Not immediate”.

— Allegra Stratton (@ITVAllegra) June 24, 2016

0939 hrs IST: The Guardian reports that Andy Coulson, David Cameron’s former communications chief, has just told ITV that he thinks Cameron will be pondering his resignation.

Andy Coulson on set w @tombradby saying he thinks the PM “pondering his future”. He thinks he should stay, “no time for a novice” #ITVEURef

— Allegra Stratton (@ITVAllegra) June 24, 2016

0937 hrs IST: Do you know that the pound has crashed to its lowest since 1985? Read here.

0932 hrs IST: Commenting on the referendum and on Scotland’s future with Britain, Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland talked about Scotland’s desire to stay with the European Union, reports the Guardian. “We await the final UK-wide result, but Scotland has spoken – and spoken decisively,” she said.

0930 hrs IST: The BBC reports that the Pound has dropped to levels not seen since 1985 as the “Leave” camp becomes stronger.

 

0923 hrs IST: The Guardian reports that results of 319 areas out of 382 have been declared. “Remain” has won in 102 places while “Leave” leads with a massive victory in 217 areas.

0917 hrs IST: Stephen Crabb, the work and pensions secretary, for the “Remain” camp, said it was absolutely essential for David Cameron to continue as Prime Minister. “[No one else] can give this country the kind of leadership skills and abilities that David Cameron can at this, what is going to be very challenging weeks and months for the country,” he said.

0914 hrs IST: Moray and Monmouth give a 50-50 vote to both camps.

0911 hrs IST: Nigel Farage says PM David Cameron should resign immediately if Britain chooses to ‘leave’ the European Union.

0910 hrs IST: Ealing, Exeter, Edinburgh, Merton, Midlothian, and East Ayrshire, vote to “Remain”.

0905 hrs IST: BBC Forecast: UK votes for “Leave”, for Brexit with a four-point victory – 52% to 48%.

0859 hrs IST: A divided Britain on Brexit has become an increasing concern for all. After Nigel Farage’s charging speech, Chuka Umunna, Labour Party MP, said, “When [Farage]…says this is a victory for decent, for honest, real ordinary people, that tends to suggest…people who have…voted [remain] don’t fit into that category. The challenge for us as policy makers is how do we knit together our society after that division.”

0856 hrs IST: Southampton chooses to “Leave” while Dumfries & Galloway chooses to “Remain”.

0852 hrs IST: As expected, with the “Leave” camp continually becoming stronger, the Pound skid sharply downwards. “Sterling is getting smackadoodled,” said Tim Kelleher, Head of FX Institutional Sales New Zealand for ASB Bank in Auckland.

0847 hrs IST: The Guardian reports that the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, says that if Britain chooses the Brexit and Scotland, which has shown an overwhelming majority for the “Remain” vote, chooses to stay, then it could trigger a “constitutional crisis”. The SNP’s manifesto seemed to say that the EU referendum could trigger another referendum for independence.

0838 hrs IST: North Norfolk, Gravesham, Hambleton, Salford, Plymouth, Blackburn with Darwen, Newark & Sherword, South Holland, Swale and Chesterfield vote to “Leave” while Barth & Northeast Somerset vote to “Remain”, reports BBC.

0836 hrs IST: “Leave” vote climbs over the 500,000 vote advantage over “Remain” vote, reports the Guardian.

0832 hrs IST: Sutton, Chichester, Huntingdonshire, High Peak and North Devon choose the “Leave” camp while South Oxofrdshire, Sefton, Warwick, and South Cambridgeshire choose “Remain”.

0826 hrs IST: Nigel Farage MEP, Leader of UKIP, who has strongly led the “Leave” vote throughout the campaign, calls it a victory for the Brexit camp. “Dawn is breaking on an independent Britain. Brexit will be a victory for real people. We fought against, big banks, big corruption, big politics and now we are winning.  I will have done it for the whole of Europe. Let June 23 go down as independence day.”

0824 hrs IST: Cardiff votes to “Remain”.

0820 hrs IST: Hilary Benn, the shadow foreign secretary of UK, says PM David Cameron will have to resign if Britain votes for Brexit.

0818 hrs IST: Pound drops to levels not seen since 2009.

0816 hrs IST: Manchester votes to “Remain”.

0811 hrs IST: Whitehorse, Rushcliffe, Hackney, Kensington & Chelsea and Cotswold choose “Remain” and Eastleigh chooses “Leave”.

0808 hrs IST: With  results of over 200 areas declared and a 71% turnout, “Leave” vote leads by 52%.

0802 hrs IST: East Riding of Yorkshire, Rossendale, East Staffordshire, Doncaster, Canterbury, Barnsley, Walsall, Tameside, Epping Forest, Mid Devon, and Chelmsford votes to “Leave” while Epsom & Ewell, Reading Fife, South Down, Mid Ulster, North Hertfordshire and Hart choose “Remain”.

0756 hrs IST: The pound hits the lowest at $1.3879, down by 6%.

0752 hrs IST: Northern Ireland leads with “Remain” vote.

0751 hrs IST: “Remain” wins in Moray and Monmouthsire while New Forest, Colchester, Purbeck, and Thurrock choose “Leave”.

0648 hrs IST: East of England, South West take the lead on “Leave” while London leads with “Remain”.

0746 hrs IST: Lichfield and Ashford choose to “Leave” while Falkirk votes to “Remain”.

0743 hrs IST: With more than half the areas’ results declared, “Leave” vote shows an increasing lead in the referendum.

0739 hrs IST: With 8 areas left to declare, “Remain” gets over one million votes in Scotland.

0738 hrs IST: Liverpool votes to “Remain”.

0736 hrs IST: 84 conservative MPs tell PM David Cameron that he should stay in office regardless of result.

0734 hrs IST: Forest Heath, Carmarthenshire, Gloucester, Maidstone choose “Leave” while South Lakeland chooses “Remain”.

0731 hrs IST: “Leave” vote wins in Redditch, Eastbourne, Malvern Hills, Surrey Heath, Runnymede, and Oldham.

0729 hrs IST: Labour MP John Mann, who voted for Brexit, told the BBC that Labour voters have “decisively voted to leave the European Union”.

0728 hrs IST: East Antrim, Forest of Dean, and West Devon choose the “Leave” vote.

0726 hrs IST: Richmond upon Thames votes to “Remain”.

0724 hrs IST: “Leave” leads in East of England.

0722 hrs IST: St Albans votes to “Remain” and Havant, North Dorset, West Somerset, and Castle Point vote to “Leave”.

0720 hrs IST: Liverpool votes to “Remain” in the EU.

0715 hrs IST: Allerdale, North West Leicestershire, Watford, Malvern Hills, Hertsmere vote to “Leave” while Ceredigion chooses “Remain”.

0714 hrs IST: The turnout has been at 69% and results for 87 areas have been declared.

0709 hrs IST: North Lanarkshire takes the “Remain” votes while Peterborough, Harlow, Brentwood choose to “Leave”.

0706 hrs IST: “Leave” wins in Uttlesford, Nuneaton & Bedworth, and Corby.

0703 hrs IST: Hammersmith & Fulham, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire have to voted to “Remain” in the EU.

0654 hrs IST: “Leave” wins in Conwy, Torbay, Belfast East, Barking & Dagenham while Wandswarth, East Lothian, North Ayrshire vote to “Remain”.

0650 hrs IST: With 17 out of 32 areas declared in Scotland, the “Remain” vote leads crucially in Scotland.

0648 hrs IST: Glasgow votes to “Remain”.

0646 hrs IST: “Leave” vote wins in Oxford, Exeter, and Lambeth

0642 hrs IST: Fareham and North Warwickshire vote to “Leave”.

0639 hrs IST: North Down results: 23,131 votes for “Remain”, 21,046 votes for “Leave”, 34 votes rejected.

0637 hrs IST: Results for 39 areas have been declared so far.

0632 hrs IST: With 1,279,166 votes, “Leave” wins in Eden.

0625 hrs IST: Swansea, Merthyr Tyfil, Bury and Wales votes for “Leave”.

0621 hrs IST: City of London votes for “Remain”, wins 3,312 votes. Leave camp gets only 25 per cent votes.

0615 hrs IST: Middlesbrough, North Antrim, Flinshire, Strangford, Wellingborough votes to leave EU.

0612 hrs IST: Basildon votes to leave EU with 67,251 votes for Brexit. Only 31 per cent voted for “Remain”. Leave lead by over 73,000 votes.

0608 hrs IST: Hartepool votes to “Leave” with 70 per cent voting in favour of Brexit. “Leave” lead by 21,069.

0602 hrs IST: With 59 per cent votes “Remain” wins in East Ayrshire. “Leave” lead decreases to 3,027 votes. Results for 15 areas declared so far.

0600 hrs IST: Eilean Siar, West Tyrone and Western Isles votes to “Remain” in EU.

0555 hrs IST: Lagan Valley votes to Leave with 53 per cent voting for Brexit. “Leave” leads by over 15,000 votes.

0550 hrs IST: Dundee votes to remain in EU with 60 per cent voting against Brexit. Lead by the “Leave” down to 12,878 votes.

0547 hrs IST: “Leave” wins in South Tyneside with 62 per cent votes while “Remain” gets only 38 per cent. Leave lead by over 25, 000 votes. Results for 12 areas have been declared as of now.

0540 hrs IST: “Remain” wins in Shetland Island with 56.5 per cent.

0538 hrs IST: Elections expert Professor John Curtice told the BBC that turnout in London seems to be 2 or 3 per cent lower than expected, based on figures in so far. That might be the result of terrible rain we had in the capital. If so, this is bad for remain, which counts London as a stronghold.

0534 hrs IST: 61 per cent in Kettering votes to “Leave”.

0530 hrs IST: With 8 results in out of 382 in the EU referendum, turnout is 69.7 per cent.

 

0523 hrs IST: “Leave” wins in Broxbourne, “Remain” garners only 34 per cent votes. “Leave” again leads by 9,931 votes.

0520 hrs IST: Swindon opts to “Leave” EU with 55 per cent votes. Takes “Remain” lead down to 9,609.

0515 hrs IST: 56 per cent votes to “Remain” in Isles of Scilly, takes “Remain” camp to lead by 20,134 votes.

0510 hrs IST: Foyle in Northern Ireland votes for “Remain” with 78 per cent voting for “in” camp, repirts BBC. “Remain” again leads by over 19,000 votes.

0455 hrs IST: Sterling falls more than 6 per cent to below $1.44 after Sunderland vote.

0450 hrs IST: Scottish Conservative leader Davidson says turout in Scotland to be around or above 70 per cent.

0445 hrs IST: Dollar/ Yen falls more than 2 per cent after Sunderland results.

 

0443 hrs IST: Sunderland votes to “Leave”, wins 82394 and “Remain” gets 51930. Turout is 65 per cent. After Sunderland results, “Leave” leads by 3208 votes.

0440 hrs IST: Results for Clackmannanshire declared. “Remain” wins 58 per cent votes.

0429 hrs IST: “Leave” is 37 per cent and “Remain” is 63 per cent in Orkney.

0425 hrs IST: “Leave” is 49.3 per cent and “Remain” is 50.7 per cent in Newcastle. Turnout is 68 per cent. The Remain lead by 20, 305 votes till two area results were declared.

0403 hrs IST: “Remain” wins 19,322 votes in Gibraltar, “Leave” wins 823 votes, in the first of 382 counting areas to report EU referendum results.

0400 hrs IST: Douglas Carswell, the UKIP MP, told the BBC that “Leave” camp have done well even if they do not leave, reports Guardian.

(Source: Reuters)

0355 hrs IST: Turout stands at 69. 4 per cent after  three counting areas are done: UK Press Association Data

0344 hrs IST: The UK Press Association Data revealed that the voter turnout stands at 77. 4 per cent after two counting areas out of 382.

0340 hrs IST: Sunderland is once again vying to be the first to declare its result – and expecting a high turnout. About 45 per cent of the city’s 207,207 voters do so by postal vote, Reports Guardian.

0320 hrs IST: The “Remain” camp has an eight-point lead over those who want Britain to leave the European Union, according to a poll by Ipsos MORI, the firm’s chief executive said on Thursday, shortly after voting in the country’s EU membership referendum ended.

Ipsos MORI (#EUref on the day):

REMAIN 54 (+2)
LEAVE 46 (-2)

Changes vs earlier today
*** ALSO NOT AN EXIT POLL ***#Brexit #EUreferendum

— NCP EU Referendum (@NCPoliticsEU) June 23, 2016

0303 hrs IST: British Electoral Commission Chair Jenny Watson said the first stages of the vote counting process were already underway, and polling station workers could be seen running and creating human chains to move ballot boxes to counting centers.

0300 hrs IST: Nigel Farage, head of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and a leading voice in favour of the “Leave” camp, told Sky News he did not expect to be on the winning side.

“It’s been an extraordinary referendum campaign, turnout looks to be exceptionally high and looks like Remain will edge it,” Farage told Sky News. A spokesman for Farage declined to elaborate.

0249 hrs IST: Brent crude extens gains slightly in post-settlement trading after the YouGov poll shows “Remain” ahead in voting.

0247 hrs IST: More than 80 Conservative lawmakers who called for Britain to leave the European Union have signed a letter saying Prime Minister David Cameron should remain UK Prime Minister regardless of the referendum results.

The letter thanked Prime Minister David Cameron for giving the British people a choice of their destiny today .

— Robert Syms MP (@robertsymsmp) June 23, 2016

0245 hrs IST: Pound rose to its highest level of 2016 on Thursday after the release of a referendum day poll showed voters in Britain had voted to stay in the European Union.

0235 hrs IST: The UK Press Association Data revealed that the voter turnout was 83. 65 per cent in Gibraltar, the first counting area to report turnout.

0230 hrs IST: YouGov Refernendum day poll has put the “IN” on 52 per cent and “OUT” camp on 48 per cent.

0210 hrs IST: Polls close across all places in Britain’s historic referendum on whether to leave the European Union.

[With inputs from Agencies]