Brexit: The UK must leave the EU immediately, say European leaders - as it happened

Catch up on the The Independent's live coverage of all the developments as the historic day unfolded

Samuel Osborne,Andrew Griffin,Lizzie Dearden,Siobhan Fenton

Friday 24 June 2016 19:44 EDT

Prime Minister David Cameron resigns outside 10 Downing Street, London (PA)

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Britain has voted to leave the European Union by a narrow margin, with a turnout of 72 per cent.

Leave won the referendum with 51.9 per cent (17,410,742 votes), while Remain finished on 48.1 per cent (16,141,241 votes).

Four months of intense campaigning from Remain, including David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn, and Leave fronted by Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage, led up to the third nationwide referendum in British history.

Voters were asked: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?”

The final national result will be officially declared by the Chief Counting Officer, based at Manchester Town Hall.

Opinion polls had been on a knife-edge, giving both sides narrow leads in recent days.

The EU referendum debate has so far been characterised by bias, distortion and exaggeration. So until 23 June we ran a series of question-and-answer features that explained the most important issues in a detailed, dispassionate way to help inform your decision.

What is Brexit and why are we having an EU referendum?

Does the UK need to take more control of its sovereignty?

Could the UK media swing the EU referendum one way or another?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will we gain or lose rights by leaving the European Union?

Will Brexit mean that Europeans have to leave the UK?

Will leaving the EU lead to the break-up of the UK?

What will happen to immigration if there's Brexit?

Will Brexit make the UK more or less safe?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will leaving the EU save taxpayers money and mean more money for the NHS?

What will Brexit mean for British tourists booking holidays in the EU?