United Kingdom has voted to leave European Union in what is being seen as political earthquake. Just over 52 per cent of Britons expressed their desire to exit the EU in referendum on Thursday. Currency markets were immediately affected as British pound fell to its lowest level against dollar since 1985. Britain's decision to leave has caused political upheaval. Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay in EU and so politicians in both countries are now contemplating breaking from UK. Right-wing politicians in Europe congratulated the UK for leaving. One said: "It is Great Britain's independence day. people were asked, and they decided. The European Union as political union has failed."
magnitude of result was summed up by Rob Ford, professor of politics at Manchester University, who said: "This is biggest shock to European politics since the fall of Berlin Wall." The vote has already prompted Britain's leader David Cameron to resign. He led the campaign to stay part of the EU and will step down in October. He said country needed "fresh leadership". Less certain is plight of 3.3 million non-British EU citizens living in Britain, and 1.3 million Britons living in other EU countries. Others may follow UK's lead in exiting EU. Representatives from Holland's Dutch Freedom Party and France's National Front Party said: "Now it is our turn."
