Voters in the United Kingdom chose to leave the European Union by 51.9 per cent to 48.1 per cent on a turnout of 72 per cent, a result that surprised financial markets and much of the political establishment.
England and Wales voted to leave while Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain, exposing constitutional strains that shaped British politics for years. Sterling fell sharply against the dollar in overnight trading.
David Cameron, who had called the referendum, announced his resignation on the steps of Downing Street the following morning. Formal withdrawal took place in January 2020 after protracted negotiation.
