In Pictures

Tears, joy and a resignation as UK votes for Brexit

Britain votes to leave the EU, forcing Prime Minister David Cameron to resign, dealing a blow to the European project.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, accompanied by his wife, Samantha, speaks to the media in front of 10 Downing Street, London, as he announces he will resign by the time of the Conservative Party conference in the autumn. His decision follows the EU referendum, in which Britain voted to leave the EU. [Alastair Grant/AP]

24 Jun 2016

Britain has voted to leave the European Union, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron and dealing the biggest blow to the European project of greater unity since World War II.

A leave vote means the future of Britain’s financial services industry may now be hanging in the balance.

Quitting the EU could cost Britain access to the EU’s trade barrier-free single market and means it must seek new trade accords with countries around the world.

The United Kingdom itself could break apart, with politicians in Scotland – where nearly two-thirds of voters wanted to stay in the EU – calling for a new vote on independence.

Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, speaks to the media on College Green in front of the Houses of Parliament in London. Britain voted to leave the European Union after a bitterly divisive referendum campaign, according to tallies of official results on Friday. [Matt Dunham/AP]

Vote Leave supporters smile as they gather to listen to Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, speaking to the media on College Green in London. [Matt Dunham/AP]

A trader from BGC, a global brokerage company in London's Canary Wharf financial centre, reacts during trading after Britain voted to leave the European Union in the EU Brexit referendum. [Russell Boyce/Reuters]

People gather round the car of British MP Boris Johnson as he leaves his home in London. [Tim Ireland/AP]

Supporters of the Stronger In Campaign react as results of the EU referendum are announced at the Royal Festival Hall in London. [Rob Stothard/Pool/Reuters]

A worker counts ballots after polling stations closed in the Referendum on the European Union in Islington, London. [Neil Hall/Reuters]

Chelsea Pensioners leave after voting in the EU referendum, at a polling station in Chelsea in London. [Toby Melville/Reuters]

Part of a flotilla of fishing vessels campaigning to leave the European Union sails past Parliament on the river Thames in London. [Stefan Wermuth/Reuters]