The British public have voted to leave the EU
Despite warnings of a year-long recession by George Osborne and calls from leading entrepreneurs that the country is stronger within the European Union, the British public have voted for a Brexit.
The value of the pound against the US dollar fell more than ten per cent overnight as results came in from polling booths throughout the country, as British company shares being traded in Hong Kong also slumped.
The final result saw 51.9 per cent of votes cast in favour of leaving the EU, out of a total turnout of 46.5m. While Scotland voted by a margin of 62 per cent to 38 per cent to remain, English voters swung the other way with 53.4 per cent in favour of a Brexit.
Leave campaigner Boris Johnson welcomed the result, arguing that leaving the European Union will pave the way for a “moreprosperous and more secure future.”
britain can move forward in the spirit of the warm, humane and generous values that are the best of Britain, added Justice secretary and Brexit proponent Michael Gove.
Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones urged small business owners to to work together and with trusted advisers, to continue on the road to growth and drive economic activity in the UK”.
“Small businesses are fast-moving and tenacious. They will rapidly respond to this result by looking at new markets and opportunities. They will continue to trade and innovate, she said in a statement.
MP Anna Soubry also remained optimistic. The minister for small business tweeted:
I will respect the result. It’s a dreadful decision. We have to make the best of it.
the weeks and months ahead are going to be a nervy time for business leaders, so they need to know that the government is focussed on maintaining stability while a new relationship with the EU is established, Simon Walker, Director General of the Institute of Directors, told The Telegraph.
one thing the government must do immediately is to guarantee the right to remain of EU citizens currently in the UK. Companies do not want to have to worry about losing valued staff.
Leading entrepreneurs have taken to Twitter to voice their dismay on the outcome, with Small Business Decision Maker Martha Lane Fox sharing a clip from a 1973 Woody Allen film which sees the main character cryogenically frozen for 200 years. Dragons? Den judge Deborah Meaden was less cryptic in sharing her opinion about the Brexit:
Oh no. Deborah Meaden (@DeborahMeaden) June 24, 2016
