GETTY Britain has voted for Brexit on an historic morning for the country

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Express EU referendum result: Britain voted to LEAVE the EU

David Cameron resigns as Prime Minister in emotional speech

Labour leadership crisis as Jeremy Corbyn faces vote of no confidence from MPs

Nicola Sturgeon confirms another independence referendum "is on the table" for Scotland

Boris Johnson hails "glorious opportunity" for post-Brexit Britain

Ukip calls for Chancellor George Osborne to resign

Bank of England to 'take all neccesary steps' to prop up Britain's financial system

Angela Merkel says vote is a blow to Europe

Brussels says it expects Britain to take "swift action" to leave the EU

Nigel Farage calls for national holiday in honour of Brexit

FTSE loses £140billion in minutes amid Brexit panic but recovers to finish week on high

Pro-Europe protestors gather outside Downing Street

Britain voted for Brexit by 51.9 per cent to 48.1 per cent Talking from Brussels after an emergency meeting with EU leaders, Mr Juncker said he was "very sad" but ordered the country to negotiate its exit plan “as soon as possible, however painful this process will be”. He added the renegotiation could begin immediately and there was no need to wait until October, as originally planned. Meanwhile, David Cameron signalled his intention to stand down before the Conservative Party conference in October, but promised to stay in post with his Cabinet until a new Tory leader was chosen, while Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans for another independence poll. It follows the announcement of a momentous Brexit vote this morning. Leave officially passed the winning mark just after six o'clock this morning as voters demanded the UK untangle itself from the 28-country bloc. Overall, with all votes counted, 17,410,742 Britons voted to quit the EU with 16,141,241 voting to Remain.

AFP GETTY Jeremy Corbyn is seen outside Sky's temporary news studio as MPs table a no confidence motion

SKY NEWS Margaret Hodge has tabled a motion of no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn's leadership

It was a hard fought campaign. It is not the outcome I wanted but I respect decision of British people and will do all I can to make it work — George Osborne (@George_Osborne) June 24, 2016

FINANCIAL IMPACT Ukip has called for Chancellor George Osborne to resign in the wake of the Brexit vote as people were seen queuing outside foreign exchanges as the pound plummeted. Remain supporter Osborne made no mention of the Prime Minister's resignation when he eventually made a statement on the referendum shortly before 2pm as speculation mounted over his own future. He said: “It was a hard fought campaign. It is not the outcome I wanted but I respect decision of British people and will do all I can to make it work.” Earlier today he held briefed G7 finance ministers and bank governors on the result of the historic referendum. And despite plummeting by 8.7 per cent when markets first opened this morning, the FTSE 100 has rebounded well this afternoon. The index has since recovered to a loss of just 1.9 per cent, which will actually see it finish the week higher than it began it. Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, has pledged to ensure a "smooth transition" to the new economic relationship between the UK and the EU. Despite warning of financial catastrophe in the event of a Leave vote, Ms Lagarde has now promised the organisation "stands ready." Goldman Sachs boxx Lloyd Blankfein has said the bank respects the decision of the British public and said he had been preparing for such an occurence for "several months."

REUTERS Angela Merkel expressed "great regret" following the vote for Brexit

Ukip MEP Jane Collins accused Mr Osborne of “bamboozling voters” and promptly called for the Chancellor to resign. The MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire said: “I have been campaigning for this day for eighteen years and I am over the moon that the British people were allowed to have their say and have voted to leave the EU. "What is evident from these results is that the working men and women of this country were not represented by the main parties but did not believe the relentless scaremongering by Project Fear. “I also firmly believe that George Osborne, who has spent the last months deriding the British economy and British workers, can no longer stay in position as Chancellor. He used taxpayers money to create bizarre economic models to bamboozle voters.”

AFP GETTY Jean-Claude Juncker said Brussels expects the UK to take swift action to leave the EU

SKY NEWS Boris Johnson said Boris Johnson said "we cannot turn out back on Europe"

LABOUR CRISIS As the Conservative Party deals with the Prime Minister’s resignation, the Labour Party leadership is also in turmoil. Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey have submitted a no confidence motion in Jeremy Corbyn who has been widely criticised for his efforts in the Remain campaign. The veteran Labour MPs tabled the motion against Mr Corbyn "for failure of leadership in communicating our message". As Mr Corbyn left a three hour shadow cabinet meeting, Margaret Hodge said: "I’ve out a motion to Parliamentary Labour party which is a motion of no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn which I hop ehe will think about seriously, reflect on and do the decent thing in the same way David Cameron has. “I think the European referendum was a test of leadership and I think Jeremy failed that test, he came out too slowly, he was very half-hearted about his attempts to campaign and Labour voters simply didn’t get the message.” Mr Corbyn cancelled his appearance at Glastonbury after the referendum result. The Labour leader had been scheduled to speak on Sunday at an event called Jez We Can: Jeremy Corbyn in Conversation. A spokesman confirmed he would be "focusing on the issues" thrown up by the "momentous" vote rather than travelling to Worthy Farm. Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair said: “Let me be frank, I think the leadership of the Labour party was pretty lukewarm in its support for Remain, I don’t think we really organised and mobilised our supporters to understand this was not a protest vote against the government or indeed against the establishment." Moments earlier Nicola Sturgeon said the option of a second independence referendum for Scotland "is on the table" in a speech in Edinburgh.

SKY NEWS Michael Gove said the government will "calmly and unitedly" take the UK forward

SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE Standing in front of an EU flag and a Scottish flag, the First Minister of Scotland, said talks will begin between the EU and Scotland and intends to discuss all options for Scotland remaining in the EU. Questioned on the possibility of a proper border between England and Scotland, Ms Sturgeon said Scotland needs to consider all of the issues after the EU referendum. As speculation mounts over who will become Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove paid tribute to David Cameron and said they would work "calmly and consensually" over the next few months . Speaking at Vote Leave HQ, Mr Johnson said: “I want to begin by paying tribute to David Cameron. I know I speak for Michael Gove in saying how sad I am in that he’s decided to step down but obviously I respect that decision. “I’ve known David Cameron for a very long time and believe he has been one of the most extraordinary politicians of our age.” Mr Johnson praised the Prime Minister’s bravery for calling the referendum. The former London Mayor backed Mr Cameron's decision not to invoke the formal process for the UK to leave the EU immediately. He stressed "Britain will continue to be a great European power" and said the nation "cannot turn its back on Europe". He said: "We can find our voice in the world again, powerful, liberal humane, an extraordinary force for good in the world. "I think we can be very proud of the result."

Peter Macdiarmid/LNP Pro-Europe protestors outside Downing Street this afternoon

SWNS A protestor in Westminster this afternoon

INTERNATIONAL REACTION But despite both David Cameron and Boris Johnson stressing there is no immediate need to begin the process of leaving the EU, Brussels says it expects swift action. European Council president Donald Tusk said: "In a free and democratic process, the British people have expressed their wish to leave the European Union. We regret this decision but respect it. "We now expect the United Kingdom Government to give effect to this decision of the British people as soon as possible, however painful that process may be. "Any delay would unnecessarily prolong uncertainty. We have rules to deal with this in an orderly way." President Barack Obama said the UK and EU will still have a "special relationship" despite the UK’s Brexit vote. Mr Obama insisted the UK and Washington will “indispensable partners" following Britain’s decision to sever ties with Brussels. The president spoke to Cameron by phone and was satisfied the country was preparing for an "orderly transition." He added later in the day: "David has been an outstanding friend and partner on the global stage and, based on our conversation, I'm confident that the UK is committed to an orderly transition out of the EU. "We agreed that our economic and financial teams will remain in close contact as we stay focused on ensuring economic growth and financial stability. "I then spoke to chancellor (Angela) Merkel of Germany and we agreed that the United States and our European allies will work closely together in the weeks and months ahead. "I do think yesterday's vote speaks to the ongoing changes and challenges that are raised by globalisation." Secretary of state John Kerry echoed these sentiments during a phone call to Phillip Hammond when he promised the US would remain "engaged" with the UK.

GETTY Leave campaigner Iain Duncan Smith speaks to reporters

Vice president Joe Biden, however, took a harsher look at the result, and blasted "reactionary politicians and demagogues peddling xenophobia, nationalism and isolationism." Speaking in Ireland and quoting Irish poet WB Yeats, he said: "All has changed, changed utterly - a terrible beauty has been born." A spokesperson for the Pentagon also said the UK would remain a "strong ally" with America. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed the sentiment from President Obama in a statement today. He said: "The UK and the EU are important strategic partners for Canada German chancellor Angela Merkel said Brexit is a blow to Europe and expressed “great regret” following the historic vote. The French government announced this afternoon Brexit will not affect its bilateral immigration treaty with UK. However, the Mayor of Calais has now threatened to attempt to renegotiate the Le Touquet treaty, which could put more responsibility on British authorities.

PA Boris Johnson is surrounded by police and reporters as he leaves his London home

GETTY Jeremy Corbyn walks to the Houses of Parliament after David Cameron resigns

US presidential candidate congratulated the UK on the result while in Scotland today and said Obama had put his foot in it by endorsing the EU. He said: "I was surprised that President Obama would be so bold to come here and tell people what to do. "I think a lot of people don't like him and I think if he had not said it I think you're result might have been different. "It's not his country, it's not his part of the world. "He shouldn't have done it and I actually think his recommendation perhaps caused it to fail."

GETTY Nigel Farage speaks to the media hours after Britain voted to leave the EU

CAMERON RESIGNS Speaking outside Downing Street, Mr Cameron said he would not trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty immediately - the formal process by which the UK will leave the EU. In an emotional address, during which his voice broke, Mr Cameron said: "I was absolutely clear about my belief that Britain is stronger, safer and better off inside the European Union, and I made clear the referendum was about this and this alone – not the future of any single politician, including myself. "But the British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path, and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction. "I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months, but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination. Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said Cameron and Johnson "gnawed away at each other's testicles" during the Tory split which blighted the referendum. He said: "It was like the whole of the media was obsessed by this sort of struggle between Cameron and Johnson as they gnawed away at each other's testicles. "It was like civil war in the Tory party, not a debate about the economy." The Prime Minister has met with the Queen this morning to inform Her Majesty of his decision, while the Bank of England unveilled contingency plans after £140billion was wiped off the FTSE 100 this morning and the pund plummeted. Now Eurocrats have called the first meeting of EU leaders on Wednesday – Which Britain will be barred from attending. European Commission head Jean-Claude Junker urged divorce proceedings to start as soon as possible. He said: "Britons decided yesterday that they want to leave the European Union, so it doesn't make any sense to wait until October to try to negotiate the terms of their departure. "I would like to get started immediately." And European Parliament President Martin Schulz blasted the Prime Minister's Conservative party for taking the EU "hostage" by pushing back the activation of Article 50 until his successor is chosen.

PA David Cameron speaks after Britain voted to leave the European Union

PA David Cameron and wife Samantha walk out of Number 10

As MPs paid tribute to Mr Cameron, Ukip leader Nigel Farage reacted to the news. He said it is "right" that David Cameron has resigned, adding: "Not a bad man, just on the wrong side of the argument." Speaking moments after Mr Cameron revealed he will stand down as Prime Minister, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said: "Inevitably there will be a period of uncertainty. "We are well prepared for this." He said the Bank will "not hesitate to take additional measures as required" and that it has stress-tested Britain's banks "against situations far more severe". Mr Carney said the Bank has a £250bn fighting fund ready to splurge on stabilising the UK economy. The Prime Minister said he did not think he is best placed to lead Britain's exit negotiations with the EU and it is not for him to decide when to trigger Article 50. But he said: "They on the losing side of the argument should help to make it work."

In his dignified & statesmanlike announcement to stand down as PM David_Cameron has just shown he is irreplaceable pic.twitter.com/NPgqQRQHay — Nigel Huddleston MP (@HuddlestonNigel) June 24, 2016

The PM @David_Cameron at his statesmanlike best. So sad to see him go. A great man, democrat, patriot and Conservative of huge integrity. — George Freeman (@Freeman_George) June 24, 2016

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, have urged Britons to “unite in a common task to build a generous and forward-looking country," in the wake of Brexit. Mr Welby revealed in June he was supporting the Remain side. As the fall-out continued the Spanish government called for shared sovereignty over Gibraltar. The British Overseas Territory voted overwhelmingly to Remain, with 95.9 per cent of voters backing the status quo. The enclave at the entrance to the Mediterranean relies heavily on its open border with Spain for trade. But acting Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said he hoped "co-sovereignty" of Gibraltar and "the Spanish flag on the Rock" were much closer to happening in the wake of the vote.

Britain votes to LEAVE EU Fri, June 24, 2016 LIVE: UK set to leave the EU as projections across several news websites claim Britain votes out. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 71 Nigel Farage, the leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), makes a statement after Britain voted to leave on the European Union

The Prime Minister began his address outside Number 10: "We should be proud of the fact we trust the public with this decision. "The British people have voted to leave the EU and their will must be respected. "The will of the British people is an instruction that must be delivered. "There can be no debate about the result." Mr Cameron's decision came despite 84 eurosceptic Tory MPs expressing their support for him last night and Tory MP Graham Brady, chairman of the infliuential 1922 committee, saying he believed he should stay. Labour MPs and Ukip leader Nigel Farage had called on Mr Cameron to consider his position. The result sparked turmoil on financial markets, with pound sterling plunging 10 per cent to reach its lowest value against the dollar since 1985 while Japan briefly suspended trading in order to ease panicked traders.

PROTESTS A crowd of pro-Europe protestors have now gathered outside Downing Street, chanting slogans and waving banners. The signs read "I want to be with eYOU", "I am not British I am European" and "Stronger together". Teenagers under the age of eighteen have also been protesting that they were not allowed to vote in the referendum. Children aged 16 and over were given the right to vote in the Scottish referendum election. Tens of thousand of people have also signed a petition calling for London to be given its own independence, after the high Remain support in the city. A petition calling for a second EU referendum has also been launched. The page, set up by William Oliver Healey, reads: "We the undersigned call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the remain or leave vote is less than 60% based on a turnout less than 75% there should be another referendum." It has over 100,000 signatures and is receiving around 11,000 signatures per hour. A sombre atmosphere descended on Glastonbury Festival after a night of partying as news filtered through that Britain had voted to leave the EU. There were no televisions at the site showing the result, but news quickly spread, although Prime Minister David Cameron's resignation was still trickling through as the festival prepared to officially open at 11am. Among festival-goers, there was a feeling of surprise and uncertainty. Blur frontman Damon Albarn told the crowd that "democracy has failed us”.

At a result night party, Ukip leader Nigel Farage - among those, including the Daily Express, who have spearheaded efforts for Britain to leave the EU - said: "Dare to dream that the dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom. Speaking to delirious supporters, he added: "This will be a victory for real people, a victory for ordinary people, a victory for decent people. "We have fought against the multinationals, we have fought against the big merchant banks, we have fought against big politics, we have fought against lies, corruption and deceit. "And today honesty, decency and belief in nation, I think now is going to win. "And we will have done it without having to fight, without a single bullet being fired, we'd have done it by damned hard work on the ground." He went on: "And we'll have done it not just for ourselves, we'll have done it for the whole of Europe. "I hope this victory brings down this failed project and leads us to a Europe of sovereign nation states, trading together, being friends together, cooperating together, and let's get rid of the flag, the anthem, Brussels, and all that has gone wrong. "Let June 23 go down in our history as our independence day." He later called for June 23 to become a Bank Holiday.

REUTERS Traders from BGC react at Canary Wharf as European stock markets open

PA Jeremy Corbyn addresses the media after the EU referendum vote

European Council president Donald Tusk, who helped to put together David Cameron's 'pathetic' EU renegotiation deal, said: "A serious even dramatic moment, especially for the UK. "We are prepared for this negative scenario. There will be no legal vacuum. "On behalf of all 27 leaders: We are determined to keep our unity as 27." But the former Polish prime minister suggested now was an opportunity for Brussels to reflect on the direction of the EU. He added: "I will also propose to leaders that we start a wider reflection on the future of our Union." But the Brexit vote sparked immediate demands for the Netherlands own EU referendum from the country's far-right leader Geert Wilders.

PA The Prime Minister announced his resignation in an emotional speech

REUTERS Mr Cameron said it 'was an honour to serve his country'

Huge backing for Brexit across the English shires as well as north eastern towns and cities like Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool were boosted by the shock of strong Welsh support for leaving the EU. This was countered by emphatic majorities in London for Remain, which also picked up large swathes of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Signalling she could call for a second Scottish independence referendum, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Scotland has delivered a strong, unequivocal vote to remain in the EU, and I welcome that endorsement of our European status. She added: "The vote here makes clear that the people of Scotland see their future as part of the European Union." Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will also face a backlash from his MPs and rival parties amid criticism his lacklustre efforts to keep Britain in the EU failed to convince Labour supporters. Speaking this morning, Mr Corbyn said Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - the process by which Britain will officially leave the EU - has to be invoked immediately. He said: "The British people have made their decision we must respect that result and Article 50 has to be invoked now."

This will be a victory for real people, a victory for ordinary people, a victory for decent people Nigel Farage

Mr Corbyn said the "message" from the referendum was "many communities are fed up with cuts they've had". He added: "My point through the campaign was we had to have an alternative to austerity." Challenged as to why Britain needed to invoke Article 50 immediately and could not first enter negotiations with the EU - as many Brexit-backers have suggested - Mr Corbyn said: "Obviously there has to be a strategy but the whole point of the referendum was the public would asked their opinion, they've given their opinion it's now up to Parliament o act on that opinion." Asked whether David Cameron and George Osborne should remain in Downing Street, Mr Corbyn said the pair must deal urgently to stabilise the UK economy. He said: "I want them to decide now quickly what they will do to stabilise the value of the pound."

Media around the world reacts to Brexit Fri, June 24, 2016 Newspapers across Europe reacted with shock at EU referendum result Play slideshow EPA 1 of 14 The world reacts to Britain's EU Referendum result

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said: "I believe that Britain is better off within the European Union, but the British people have clearly spoken today, and their democratic will must now be fulfilled. "I would like to praise David Cameron for the dignified way he has reacted to the message sent by the British people in his words at Downing Street today. I agree with the Prime Minister that Britain can survive and prosper outside the European Union. "I want to send a clear message to the British people and to businesses and investors around the world this morning - there is no need to panic. "I still believe that our country is better off within the European Union, but there is no doubt that London will continue to be the successful city it is today. Our city and our country will continue to be the best place in the world to do business. "And we will continue to look outwards and trade and engage with the entire world - including the European Union."

PA How Britain voted in the EU referendum

EXPRESS The polls were mostly wrong