Britain Votes to Leave European Union
Results are still coming in, but all major networks in the United Kingdom have made their call: Britain will leave the European Union. As of midnight Eastern Time, the Leave campaign leads the Remain campaign by almost 4 percentage points, meaning the United Kingdom, Europe and the rest of the world will face a different landscape Friday morning.
Voters in northern and eastern England and Wales strongly favored leaving the E.U., overcoming large majorities in London, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Prime Minister David Cameron pushed hard for remaining in the E.U., but his efforts appear to have come up short. His future in government is now in question, with former London mayor Boris Johnson a likely candidate to replace him.
Financial markets were rocked, with the British pound dropping drastically against the U.S. dollar, and the Euro falling sharply as well. It will be days, at the earliest, before anyone can grasp the full ramifications of this decision.
David Cameron is scheduled to speak to the public outside 10 Downing Street in London Friday morning.