BY GABRIEL PRINCEWILL
The UK has voted to leave the EU after a bitterly divisive referendum. The leave campaign won with a vote of 16 million to 15 million votes.
In what was a riveting wait for overall results, the pendulum kept swinging back and forth until about 3.30 am, when the leave camp were sustaining the lead for a number of hours.
The Remain group were leading the votes for much of the morning, as London, Scotland, Ireland, and a number of other county’s, voted to keep the U.K in the EU. However, overall results showed a relatively low turn out in these counties, with less than 70% turning out to vote for the Remain camp.
The strong lead in those counties was dramatically reversed when votes for the North of England were finally assembled in favor of leaving the EU. Financial markets gyrated throughout the night as business pessimism set in and caused a plunge in the pound. The pound fell to it’s lowest level in 31 years. Boris Johnson and other Brexiters pledged their support for David Cameron to continue as Prime minister, but observers doubt this will be viable for David Cameron. Political giants and experts have already been commenting that a prime minister who predicted doom and gloom in the event of a leave vote, cannot now preside over a country forecast to be in ruins if Britain leaves the EU.
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Cameron’s warnings of economic gloom already seem to be proving right as the pound has fallen to its lowest in 31 years. Optimists, happy about the outcome, believe the the hit to the pound will be short lived. Economists remain doubtful, but focus is being directed on how the country progresses from here. This voting turned out to be the highest turn out in any elections, as 72% of the population voted yesterday.
The news means the previously established rights to freedom of movement to EU members will now be restricted at the discretion of the U.K government. Britain has divorced from its 43 year alliance with Europe, set up to establish economic, political, and social solidarity and prosperity. The was to be a pillar for economic and social cohesion, embodying the freedom of movement and capital and persons. Once the process is officially activated, Britain will have two years for the implementation and finality of that process.
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It is expected to take up to 2 years for actual membership to lapse, though the mandate of the government to reflect the collective will of the people, could be implemented earlier. This historical vote is a huge blow for the Prime Minister and his supporters, talk less the thousands of people in the country who strongly believe to remain in the EU was the best option for the country. Serious consequences may lie ahead, and each passing day from henceforth may be revealing. Britain is now in uncharted territory with this result. Uncertainty, skepticism, and optimism, all coexist in various quarters. Many have already been asking whether the referendum offered by David Cameron was a wise idea.
Warnings from economic experts that the economy will suffer seriously will now face the test of time. Already, the pound has plummeted, but only time will definitely reveal how this vote works out for the country. Britain will have to renegotiate it’s position with the EU, but it is expected to be a tough one.
Gisela Stuart said it was an opportunity for Britain to take back control of the democratic process. She said it is incumbent on all of us to be very calm.This is a process, and both Europe and the United Kingdom will grow stronger. This was a decision about the country. I think the politicians have forgotten that this is not about them, she said. The German born Mp, said Britain wanted to remain friends with it’s allies and work together for a better future.
Many have described the results as a wake up call for Westminster, and politicians as a whole. The country will be in shock in many areas, whilst some will be jubilation. The nights events fluctuated so widely, that at one point the Leave group canceled a pre planned after party they had set up for a victorious outcome. However, as fortunes changed for them, the party was back on. A low turn out for the remain camp was key in scuppering their chances, whilst very high turn outs in Northern England delivered the crushing blow for the remain camp. The country has deeply torn on this referendum, and now we will live with the outcome. The divisive referendum is over, and Britain is out of the UK. What matters now is whether this decision turns out to be detrimental or beneficial for the country in the long term.
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