Divided nation: Brexit vote ahead in England, Wales
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Britons turned out in high numbers to vote on their future in the European Union, with 72.2 percent of registered voters casting their ballots in Thursday’s referendum, the Electoral Commission said.
“Counting Officers have verified that a total of 33,568,184 ballot papers will be included in the count for the referendum. Based on a confirmed electorate of 46,500,001, turnout at the referendum was 72.2 percent,” the watchdog said.
The results so far in Britain’s historic referendum point to a nation divided, with London and Scotland voting to stay in the European Union but Wales and large swathes of England, particularly the north, backing a Brexit.
– England -With 90 results still to declare, England backed “Leave” by 9,950,494 votes to 8,636,796 for Remain, according to a BBC collation of the results.
The north-eastern city of Sunderland was one of the first to declare, recording a 61.3 percent vote for a Brexit and sending the pound plunging.
It was followed by a string of “Leave” votes across the north of England, including cities like Sheffield, that were expected to vote “Remain”.
The city of Manchester voted to stay in the EU by 60.4% but turnout was relatively low, at 60 percent.
– London -Most of the British capital has strongly backed Remain, with totals including Wandsworth (75%), Lambeth (78.6%) and Hammersmith & Fulham (70%).
Outer London boroughs told a different story, however, with Barking and Dagenham voting 62.4% to leave.
– Scotland -With two results left, Scotland has backed “Remain” by 1,540,882 votes to 917,003 for “Leave”.
Orkney was the first to declare, with 63.2 percent backing staying in the EU.
If Britain votes to leave, and Scotland has voted to stay, there will be strong pressure for a second referendum on Scottish independence.
– Wales -With one result left to declare, Brexit backers in Wales claimed victory, with “Leave” at 828,907 votes and “Remain” at 736,830.
The capital, Cardiff, however, backed “Remain” by 60 percent.
– Northern Ireland -Northern Ireland voted “Remain” by 408,744 votes to 330,783 for “Leave”, according to local results collated by the BBC.
– Gibraltar -Gibraltar, a tiny overseas territory which shares a land border with Spain, was always expected to back the EU and came out 95.9 percent for Remain.
