Last night I didn't expect it to go this way. I thought the Prime Minister had some say in this. This could be an economic disaster for Europe and the U.S. and even NATO. I think personally that the refugee crisis may have ended the European Union. And terrorist attacks with 130 or more dying at once only made this worse. By the way Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party is a figure similar to Trump here in the U.S. only in England. He is one of the ones instrumental in the separation of Britain from the EU.
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| NBCNews.com | - |
LONDON
- Britain has voted to leave the European Union in a historic
referendum that forced the country's prime minister to step down,
upended markets and set the stage for a messy untangling with
far-reaching implications.
U.K. Voters Back 'Brexit,' Will Leave European Union
LONDON — Britain has voted to leave the European Union in a historic referendum that forced the country's prime minister to step down, upended markets and set the stage for a messy untangling with far-reaching implications.
Electoral officials said early Friday that the "Leave" campaign had racked up 17.4 million votes — compared to 16.1 million backing the status quo. That gave "Leave" 51.9 percent of the ballots against 48.1 percent for "Remain," capping a deeply divisive campaign.
The vote served as an indictment of Britain's government and a barometer of domestic fears about immigration and the economy.
Prime Minister David Cameron — who had forcefully campaigned to stay in the EU — later announced he would step down, saying the country needed fresh leadership.
"I do not think it would be right for me to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination," he told reporters outside his Downing Street office.
The vote for an exit — or "Brexit" — has sent shockwaves through global markets. The pound plunged to $1.35, its lowest level since 1985.
The EU now finds itself in uncharted waters: No nation state has ever left the bloc. The leaders of the EU institutions urged Britain to act quickly to formalize its exit "however painful that process may be."
"Any delay would unnecessarily prolong uncertainty," they said in a joint statement.
The EU already is grappling with a refugee crisis and persistent economic woes. A "Brexit" forces it to reconcile losing its second-largest economy and a military powerhouse.
"Remain" campaigners had argued a "Brexit" would be disastrous for the British and even global economy — but the result showed voters were unswayed.
Instead, the "Leave" side — which railed against European regulations and increased migration in a heated campaign battle — was celebrating their triumph.
"We have our country back," tweeted U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, a key figure in the "Leave" campaign.
He later told reporters the referendum was "a victory for ordinary people, against the big banks, big business and big politics."
Some analysts have warned Britain's exit could trigger a domino effect, prompting other EU members to mull their own departures from the bloc. Members of the far-right in other countries quickly cheered the result and called for referendums of their own.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her government would start drawing up legislation for a potential referendum on independence, saying she wouldn't let her country be removed from the EU "against our will."
Scots voted by 62 percent to 38 percent to stay in the EU, according to Friday's results, in contrast to the overall U.K.-wide result of 52 percent to 48 percent in favor of leaving.
A "Brexit" will undoubtedly shift the balance of power in Europe. France organized an emergency cabinet meeting and the EU assembly set an emergency session for next week amid the developments.
Related: Introducing the Ultimate 'Brexit' Playlist
EU President Donald Tusk acknowledged he was "fully aware of how serious, or even dramatic" a political moment the bloc was facing but said it was "not a moment for hysterical reactions."
He stressed the need to "keep our unity as 27" nations — a number reflecting Britain's departure from the EU from the formerly 28-country bloc.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," Tusk said in a statement.
He downplayed any fears of a potential rift on Friday, saying in a statement that "the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is enduring."
"The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision," Obama added.
Donald Trump, meanwhile, praised the results of the referendum while on a visit to Scotland.
"I think that it's a great thing," he told reporters. "They took back their country."
Nadine Michel, a 33-year-old German national living in London, wondered if she'd need a visa to stay in the country.
"Everyone kept texting me this morning saying 'What's gonna happen? Do we have to pick you up at the airport? Do you have to leave?" she told NBC News. "It's confusing and a bit terrifying, because basically we don't know what's gonna happen."
Amid the sweeping uncertainty former London mayor and leading "Leave" campaigner Boris Johnson told a press conference that Britain will not turn its back on Europe but can now "find our voice in the world."
"A voice that is commensurate with the fifth-biggest economy on earth: Powerful, liberal, humane and an extraordinary force for good," he said.
"It's great, it's fantastic," 24-year-old electrician Michael Timon told NBC News. "We can finally start being Britain again. Start saving some money."
But mainland Europe — where many nations had pleaded with Britain to remain — was reeling.
Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier calling the news "truly sobering."
"It looks like a sad day," he said in a statement.
French President Francois Hollande described the vote as a "tough test for Europe," while his Prime Minister Manuel Valls called it "an explosive shock."
"At stake is the break up pure and simple of the union," Valls said in a statement. "Now is the time to invent another Europe."
The divorce will take a minimum of two years to play out. In the meantime, the future of Europe remains uncertain.
But mainland Europe — where many nations had pleaded with Britain to remain — was reeling.
Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier calling the news "truly sobering."
"It looks like a sad day," he said in a statement.
French President Francois Hollande described the vote as a "tough test for Europe," while his Prime Minister Manuel Valls called it "an explosive shock."
"At stake is the break up pure and simple of the union," Valls said in a statement. "Now is the time to invent another Europe."
The divorce will take a minimum of two years to play out. In the meantime, the future of Europe remains uncertain.
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