 "The Palace of Culture and Science is illuminated in Union Jack colours by Warsaw's capital authorities in support of Britain staying in the EU, in Warsaw, Poland. Photo: Reuters")
Britain has voted to leave the European Union (EU), the BBC said based on voter tallies from Thursday's referendum, an outcome that would set the country on an uncertain path and deal the largest setback to European efforts to forge greater unity since World War Two.
Here are the top comments on Britain's exit from the EU:
1) David Cameron, British Prime Minister: We need fresh leadership, said British Prime Minister David Cameron in his first official announcement after the result of the referendum.
Speaking outside the prime minister's official residence, Cameron said to multiple TV channels that negotiations with the EU need to start under a new prime minister.
We need a new prime minister by October, he said.
I will attend the European council meeting next week to explain the decision taken by the British people and my own decision, he added.
I have said before that we could survive outside the EU, Cameron said, adding that now that the decision is made we need to find the best way to do it.
2) Robert Kaplan, Dallas Fed President: Asked about the Brexit vote, Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan said: "More integration between countries globally... tends to on balance improve global growth... So the reason I'm focused particularly on Brexit is... first there's the financial impact, (then) there's the economic impact which would take years to unfold."
3) Nigel Farage, UKIP leader: As early trends showed that the Leave camp had edged past the Remain campaign, UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage tweeted: "I now dare to dream that the dawn is coming up on an independent United Kingdom."
I now dare to dream that the dawn is coming up on an independent United Kingdom.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 24, 2016
"If the predictions now are right, this will be a victory for real people, a victory for ordinary people, a victory for decent people," The Independent quoted Farage as saying.
On Friday, Farage also said that British Prime Minister David Cameron should resign "immediately" if the Leave vote wins in the referendum — resulting in the country's exit.
4) Geert Wilders, Dutch politician: As it became clear that Britain had voted to leave the EU, Dutch anti-immigration leader Geert Wilders, according to Reuters Canada, called for a referendum on the Netherlands' membership in the EU.
“We want be in charge of our own country, our own money, our own borders, and our own immigration policy (sic)," he said in a statement.
5) Marine Le Pen, right-wing French leader: President of the National Front, a French far-right party, Marine Le Pen tweeted that the British vote to leave the EU was a "Victory of freedom" and that it was time to hold a similar referendum in France now.
5) Marine Le Pen, right-wing French leader: President of the National Front, a French far-right party, Marine Le Pen tweeted that the British vote to leave the EU was a "Victory of freedom" and that it was time to hold a similar referendum in France now.
Victoire de la liberté ! Comme je le demande depuis des années, il faut maintenant le même référendum en France et dans les pays de l'UE MLP
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) June 24, 2016
6) Martin Schulz, EP President: According to BBC, President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz has said that the EU is "well-prepared" for the referendum result, but "regrets the decision". Schulz added that "he respected the sovereign will of voters".
Schulz, according to BBC's live blog on Britain's exit from the EU, said, "We have clarity for the UK to go its own way." He also said that the way the referendum campaign was run was "not a good model for the wider EU".
7) Brendan Cox, slain British MP Jo Cox's husband: Brendan Cox, husband of British MP Jo Cox, who was brutally murdered last week, tweeted: "Today Jo wld have remained optimistic & focussed on what she cld do to bring our country back together around our best values #MoreInCommon (sic)"
7) Brendan Cox, slain British MP Jo Cox's husband: Brendan Cox, husband of British MP Jo Cox, who was brutally murdered last week, tweeted: "Today Jo wld have remained optimistic & focussed on what she cld do to bring our country back together around our best values #MoreInCommon (sic)"
Today Jo wld have remained optimistic & focussed on what she cld do to bring our country back together around our best values #MoreInCommon
— Brendan Cox (@MrBrendanCox) June 24, 2016
The MP from the opposition Labour Party succumbed to her injuries, on Thursday last week, after she was shot and stabbed in her constituency in northern England.
8) Manfred Weber, EPP leader: Weber, the leader of the largest group in the European Parliament, the EPP, said: "Exit negotiations should be concluded within 2 years at max. There cannot be any special treatment. Leave means leave."
We respect and regret the decision of the British voters. It causes major damage to both sides. #Brexit 1/4
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) June 24, 2016
This was a British vote, not a European vote. Cooperation within Europe is a question of self-assertion of the continent #UKReferendum 2/4
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) June 24, 2016
We want a better and smarter #Europe. We have to convince the people and bring Europe back to them. @EPPGroup
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) June 24, 2016
Exit negotiations should be concluded within 2 years at max. There cannot be any special treatment. Leave means leave. #Brexit 4/4
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) June 24, 2016
9) Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister: Steinmeier deemed it as a "sad day" for Britain and for the EU.
FM #Steinmeier: The early morning news from #GreatBritain are truly sobering. It looks like a sad day for #Europe+the #UnitedKingdom. #UK ????????
— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) June 24, 2016
10) Anton Boerner, German FTA chief: The head of Germany's Foreign Trade Association, Anton Boerner, said: "That is a catastrophic result for Britain and also for Europe and Germany, especially the German economy. It is disturbing that the oldest democracy in the world turns its back on us."
11) Gerard Araud, France's envoy to the US: Araud, the French ambassador in Washington D.C., tweeted: "Now to the other member states to save the EU from unravelling which excludes business as usual, especially in Brussels. Reform or die!"
12) Bank of England: The Bank of England (BoE), according to a report by The Independent, has said in the aftermath of the result of the referendum that "it will 'take all steps necessary' to ensure financial stability in the UK".
The report cited a BoE statement saying: “The Bank of England is monitoring developments closely.”
“It has undertaken extensive contingency planning and is working closely with HM Treasury, other domestic authorities and overseas central banks. The Bank of England will take all necessary steps to meet its responsibilities for monetary and financial stability,” the statement added.
13) Donald Tusk, President of the European Council: According to UK's The Telegraph, President of the European Council Donald Tusk has said that the EU will meet without Britain at a summit next week and "assess its future". Tusk, according to the report, added that the EU is "determined to keep our unity at 27 (nations)".
13) Donald Tusk, President of the European Council: According to UK's The Telegraph, President of the European Council Donald Tusk has said that the EU will meet without Britain at a summit next week and "assess its future". Tusk, according to the report, added that the EU is "determined to keep our unity at 27 (nations)".
The report quoted him as saying: "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger."
My remarks on the outcome of the referendum in the UK: https://t.co/Iy8lVk9W3L Video: https://t.co/BHyhShRnj5 #UKreferendum #UKref
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) June 24, 2016
14) Donald Trump, presumptive Republican presidential nominee: According to a tweet by BBC, Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said, "It's a 'great thing' that the people of the UK have 'taken back their country'."
It's a "great thing" that the people of the UK have "taken back their country," @realDonaldTrump says after #Brexit https://t.co/vT7hCM97zr
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) June 24, 2016
15) Mark Carney, BoE Governor: According to BBC, BoE Governor Mark Carney said, "We are well prepared for this."
According to the report, Carney, while giving his official statement to TV channels, said: "As a backstop, and to support the functioning of the markets, the Bank of England stands ready to provide more than £250 billion of additional funds for its normal market operations. The Bank of England is also able to provide substantial liquidity in foreign currency if required. We expect institutions to draw on this funding if appropriate."
16) Alex Salmond, former first minister of Scotland: According to The Guardian, former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond has said that Nicola Sturgeon, the current first minister, will most likely call for a second Scottish independence referendum.
Speaking in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the EU, Salmond, according to the report, said that Scotland, which voted heavily in favour of staying with the EU, must now hold a second independence vote before the process of Britain's exit is completed.
Earlier in the day, as the votes were being counted, The Independent had reported Sturgeon as saying that the people of Scotland had given an “unequivocal” nod to staying with the EU and that their future was with the bloc.
