Prime Minister of Britain, David
Cameron, has resigned and gave an emotional
speech outside 10 Downing Street.
His
resignation followed a landmark referendum that saw the country
voting to leave the European Union.
Mr.
Cameron voice broke as he announced the cabinet would meet on Monday
to draw up a time-table for his exit as leader of the world fifth
largest economy.
A
new prime minister is expected to be elected in October.
A
majority of British voters (51.7 percent) followed the call of
Pro-Leave campaigners who had described the vote as an independence
from the European Union oppression and bureaucracy that has resulted
in mass migration into the island country.
While
England voted overwhelmingly for Brexit, Scotland and Northern
Ireland backed the Remain camp.
With
Over 72.2 percent voters’ turnout (last general election in the
country has 66.1 percent turnout), many pro-Leave campaigners, led by
leader of far-right UKIP party, Nigel Farage and former mayor of
London Boris Johnson, are already seeing the referendum as a
rejection of the leadership of Mr. Cameron, who campaigned vigorously
for Britain to remain in the EU.
Despite
a strong showing for the Pro-remain campaign in London and Scotland,
majority of British cities voted to quit the EU.
Mr
Cameron’s Tory party rival, Boris Johnson, who hasn’t hidden his
desire to become PM is seen by many as a possible successor.
“I
think the Boris Johnson momentum will be unstoppable,” Steven
Fielding, a professor of political history at the University of
Nottingham told the Washington Post.
“Cameron
will try to find a dignified exit. But it’s not clear how long the
backbenchers will give him to do that.”
Mr.
Farage, who already admitted that the Pro-remain were going to win
the referendum, recanted and claimed victory for the historic
decision.
“We
have got our country back,” he tweeted. “Thanks to all of you.”
Let
June 23rd go down in history as our Independence Day,” he shouted
with arms held high to his supporters.
Although
Mr Farage is claiming this as a personal victory, many political
analysts see the possibility of his anti-immigration far-right party
occupying No 10 Downing Street as far-fetched.
Gisela
Stuart, Vote leave campaigner and Labour MP, addressed Manchester
Town Hall this morning.
She
says, “We have just taken control. 33 million people went to the
ballot box and made a democratic decision. They reflected on our 40
year history and by a majority they have decided to leave.
“I
think that is democracy at work.”
Pound
crashes to three-decade low
The
news of the Britain exit from the EU caused immediate backlash to the
country’s economy as the sterling crashed to 9 per cent against the
dollar – its lowest value since 1985.
Financial
analysts also fear more debilitating consequences of the decision on
the world’s fifth largest economy in the coming days.
“People
will be waking up this morning to turmoil in the markets and the
pound crashing, and fearing the emergency budget the Chancellor
threatened to hike their taxes and cut public services, said shadow
chancellor, John McDonnell.
“The
Government must now take steps to stabilise the economy, and to
protect jobs, pensions and wages. Labour will not allow any
instability to be paid for by the working people of this country,”
he added.
0 comments:
Post a Comment