England votes to 'Leave' EU

The UK have voted to 'Leave' the European Union, defeating the 'Remain' side by 52% to 48% despite London, Scotland and Northern Ireland backing staying in.

Earlier this morning Prime Minister David Cameron is to step down by October after the UK voted to leave the.

In a statement outside Downing Street, he said he would attempt to “steady the ship” over the coming weeks and months but that 'fresh leadership' was needed.

 

'Independence day'

UKIP leader Nigel Farage has meanwhile hailed it as the UK's “independence day”. However, less than an hour after the official result was confirmed he has moved to distance himself from at least one of the central promises of the 'Leave' campaign, including a promise that £350million a week would be spent on the NHS if the UK backed a Brexit vote.

 

Northern Ireland

The results from Northern Ireland, which was treated as one electoral area in the overall UK result, saw the Remain side edge it by 55.77 per cent, with the Leave side doing better than expected.

Fermanagh and South Tyrone has voted Remain, by 28,200 votes to 19,958, while Newry and Armagh also voted to remain in the EU.

Politically, socially and economically the decision of the UK to leave the European Union will have huge ramifications for Ireland, it is being reported.
The pound fell to its lowest level against the dollar since 1985 as the markets reacted to the results.

Border towns will be hit by the fall in sterling because shopping will be much cheaper in the north of Ireland.

 

United Ireland

Sinn Féin have already demanded that in the context of the North voting to Remain, the decision must prompt a poll on Irish unity.

A border poll can only be called by the region's Secretary of State in circumstances where there is clear evidence of a public opinion swing towards Irish unity.

Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has said that Britain’s decision to leave the European Union means that a referendum on a United Ireland is now vital.

“The British Government has no mandate to drag the north of Ireland out of the EU. It has no mandate to re-erect border controls between north and south.

“Irish interests are being actively and gravely damaged by the decisions taken in England,' Matt Carthy said.

“The north of Ireland has voted to remain in the EU. The British Government cannot now negotiate on behalf of people there to exit the European Union.

“A referendum on a United Ireland is now a democratic imperative and it is incumbent that the Irish Government and all Irish nationalist parties support this demand. To do anything less would be to betray the best interests of the Irish people,” he added.

 

'Must work together'

Maurice Pratt, Chairperson of European Movement Ireland said, “While European Movement (EM) Ireland never advocated how people should vote in yesterday’s referendum, we never shied away from our belief that an EU without the UK as a member would be a poorer one with many as yet unknown consequences for both the UK, Ireland and the EU itself. Now is the time for a period of reflection and calm as we look to assess the outcome of yesterday’s result.”

Our focus will now turn to how best engage with the UK in a different framework. Nonetheless, we will continue to preserve the important and strong relationships that exist between Ireland and the UK, one which had been normalised and underpinned by our common membership of the EU,” added Mr Pratt.

 

Local reaction

Fianna Fail Councillor John Paul Feeley, from Blacklion, which borders the Fermanagh town of Belcoo, said: “The result of the British Referendum on membership with the European Union I think clearly has implications for Britain itself, and when you consider that Scotland and Northern Ireland both voted to remain. Not long ago the British government were campaigning under the slogan of better together in terms of Scotland. But I'm much more concerned about the impact it will have on this island and I believe the Irish government need to take a proactive stance in trying to secure as positive a deal as possible with the remaining in the EU and the UK in as short a time as possible.”