BY LUCY CAULKETT
There where huge celebrations as Leave campaign triumphed in Sunderland with 61.3 per cent. The Leave camp recorded 82,000 votes to the Remain’s 51,930 votes.
The sports hall roared as the results were announced. There was a large turn out of voters, with 78 per cent of the 89,000 people who applied voting.
It’s overall vote turnout was statistically higher than the general election with 64.9% of people voting, compared to 56.2%.
Anything lower than a six point gap in Sunderland would indicate the Brexit campaign cannot win. The victory gave Brexiters a hope of victory, as people turned out in numbers to vote. They left nothing to chance in Sunderland. Early results seem to indicate a narrow lead for the Remain side altogether, so Sunderland needed this big win for the Brexit camp. Voting has not been completed, and things could still change in the last moment. 82,000 votes with a 61% victory is a good result for them. They will now have to rely on voters from other parts of the country to pull it off for them, for their huge celebrations to last right into the day, and probably the evening.
The wait is nervous, as earlier allegations of scaremongering may be cried as foul if victory results for the remain side.
A real worry for Brexiters in that know, has always been that several thousands of supporters may not vote in the end. This would be suicidal for those who don’t vote, especially as many would be Brexiters were changing sides at the last moment to avoid growing fear that a Brexit could affect the economy.
Ukip leader, Nigel Farage was already conceding defeat based on early indications of a Remain win, but even he knows that anything is possible.
Celebrations in Sunderland will continue right to the early hours of the morning, until the final announcements are announced.