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The United Kingdom European Union membership referendum took place on 23 June 2016 in the UK and Gibraltar. It was to decide whether the United Kingdom would stay in the European Union (EU).
The referendum ended with 51.9% of votes in favour of leaving the EU.
On 24 June, the then Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister David Cameron announced that he would resign. He was replaced on the 13 July by Theresa May.
Members of the Remain campaign wanted the United Kingdom to stay in the European Union. Political parties that wanted the UK to stay in the EU include the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party. They said that being in the EU gave the UK many advantages in trade.
Prime Minister David Cameron supported staying in the EU, but the Conservative Party was neutral. It was up to each MP to have their own view. Other well-known Conservatives who wanted to remain in the EU include George Osborne, Theresa May and Philip Hammond.
Members of the leave campaign, commonly called Brexit, wanted the UK to leave the European Union. Political parties who supported leaving the EU include United Kingdom Independence Party,, the Respect Party and many members of the Conservative Party. Those who supported "leave" were especially concerned about the EU's "open border" policies and mass migration.
Some well known members of the Conservative party who wanted to leave the EU included Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Gove and Boris Johnson.
| United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Choice | Votes | % |
| Remain a member of the European Union | 16,141,241 | 48.11 |
| Leave the European Union | 17,410,742 | 51.89 |
| Total votes | 33,551,983 | 100.00 |
* Total votes only include Valid votes. About 25,359 were invalid or blank. Source:
| Region | Voter turnout, of eligible |
Votes | Proportion of votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remain | Leave | Remain | Leave | |||
| East Midlands | 74.2% | 1,033,036 | 1,475,479 | 41.18% | 58.82% | |
| East of England | 75.7% | 1,448,616 | 1,880,367 | 43.52% | 56.48% | |
| London | 69.7% | 2,263,519 | 1,513,232 | 59.93% | 40.07% | |
| North East England | 69.3% | 562,595 | 778,103 | 41.96% | 58.04% | |
| North West England | 70% | 1,699,020 | 1,966,925 | 46.35% | 53.65% | |
| Northern Ireland | 62.7% | 440,707 | 349,442 | 55.78% | 44.22% | |
| Scotland | 67.2% | 1,661,191 | 1,018,322 | 62.00% | 38.00% | |
| South East England | 76.8% | 2,391,718 | 2,567,965 | 48.22% | 51.78% | |
| South West England & Gibraltar | 76.7% | 1,503,019 | 1,669,711 | 47.37% | 52.63% | |
| Wales | 71.7% | 772,347 | 854,572 | 47.47% | 52.53% | |
| West Midlands | 72% | 1,207,175 | 1,755,687 | 40.74% | 59.26% | |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 70.7% | 1,158,298 | 1,580,937 | 42.29% | 57.71% | |
Shortly after the results were announced, David Cameron said that he would resign by October of 2016. After Andrea Leadsom quit the leadership race, Theresa May became Prime Minister on 13 July.
The Scottish government announced on 24 June 2016 that they were planning to hold a second independence referendum. Northern Ireland politician Martin McGuinness also called for an Irish reunification referendum. A movement for London independence even occurred, with an online petition reaching thousands of signatures.
A "Bregret"/"Regrexit" petition was proposed by William Oliver Healey on 24 May 2016. It was made to support the creation of a second European Union membership referendum. By 25 June, more than two and a half million people signed the petition. Calls for a second referendum was later rejected by the government.
In his 2015 election campaign, David Cameron promised to renegotiate the EU membership and later hold a referendum.
Referendum posters for both the Leave and Remain campaigns in Pimlico, London
Boris Johnson MP played a key role in the Vote Leave campaign
Sign outside a polling station in England on the morning of the referendum
Prime Minister David Cameron announces his resignation following the outcome of the referendum.
Theresa May succeeded David Cameron as Prime Minister following the vote.
