Britain votes for Brexit

Britain has voted to leave the European Union, dealing a blow to the European project and sending a shock through this community which voted overwhelmingly to remain in yesterday’s landmark referendum.

After the final of the 382 counts was declared, Leave had 51.9% of the vote to 48.1% for Remain. Leave's total vote was 17,410,742, with Remain more than a million behind on 16,141,241.

In Gibraltar, people turned out in force to vote by 96% to Remain.

As the news filtered through, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo took to social media to issue a message of reassurance.

“We have surpassed greater challenges. It is time for unity, for calm and for rational thinking,” he said on Twitter.

“Together and united we will continue to prosper.”

An emergency meeting of the Gibraltar Government’s Cabinet has been called for 10am at No 6 Convent Place, ahead of a meeting of the Gibraltar Government at 3pm this afternoon.

Opposition leader Daniel Feetham also took to Twitter as it became clear that the UK had voted for Brexit.

“We must deal in hope,” Mr Feetham said.

“We have a duty to set out a positive and workable road map for the future. I remain positive that we can do that.”