GettyAfter months of campaigning and a landmark day of voting, the results of the EU Referendum are in – the country have voted to leave the European Union.
But it seems while 51.9 per cent of voters wanted to leave, the majority of reactions have been negative. In fact, it seems as though the referendum results have unleashed national – and global – turmoil.
GettyAs Leave took the lead, world financial markets plunged as nearly complete results showed a 51.8/48.2 percent split for leaving. The vote instantly creates the biggest global financial shock since the 2008 economic crisis, Reuters reports.
Still, Leave voters are proud of their triumph:
Our history and future is now back in our hands #EURefResults
— Anthony Clarke (@ThisWasEngland) June 24, 2016
Thumbs up for #UK on choosing sovereignty and self-governance over #EU socialism. #EURefResults #Brexit
— Jithin BK (@DadParticle) June 24, 2016
But while some are celebrating, most social media users seem to be shaking their heads at the result:
https://twitter.com/playXgod/status/746223832193601536
How can this be real?! Bereft. Absolutely bereft. #EURefResults
— Lauren Samuels (@Laurensamuels88) June 24, 2016
As a gay woman, I am now at risk of being discriminated against at work as LGBT workers rights were protected by EU law. #EURefResults
— Bex♀️?️? (@Beckywells113) June 24, 2016
I genuinely feel sick! What a sad sad day for this country ? #EURefResults
— Natalie Laura Blain (@natalie_laura90) June 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/thebadpedagogue/status/746227393275138054
Sitting on our apartment balcony in tears – sad day #EURefResults
— Strudders (@CStrudders) June 24, 2016
Well I have never been less proud to be British, well done for messing that up voters #EURefResults
— Joe Ground (@two_bow_joe) June 24, 2016
Some pointed to the ‘unfair’ majority age that contributed to the result, which looked a little something like this:
We all know it, but this is the sad fact of the #EUreferendum it’s basically an age war. pic.twitter.com/FVDdVlYsG4
— RichardBarrettJolley (@RichardBJ1) June 22, 2016
our age doesn't make us incompetent, as the polls clearly proved those of voting age aren't capable of making good decisions #EURefResults
— kaitlyn (@K2lTLYN) June 24, 2016
#EURefResults this is OUR future. OUR generation that has to deal with the consequences. thanks great britain, shouldn't even be great
— chlo (@dobrikftpaul) June 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/apparelseb/status/746226988365451264
Others called out Nigel Farage’s promise to put more money into the NHS:
When does the hospital building surge start? Because that's what the '£350m a week' is going to now right? Right? #EURefResults
— Colin Mckerracher (@colinmckerrache) June 24, 2016
But many have come to the same conclusion:
In a state of shock, we're now stuck on an island full of small minded idiots. Moving to Canada now, k bye x
— Hannah Pontefract (@Hanpont) June 24, 2016
I hear Canada is a good place to live you guys, or you know, there are some countries left in Europe ?
— ? (@Katherinehgt) June 24, 2016
*slow claps*
*pauses to wipe away tears*
*googles "move to Canada"*
*cries on keyboard*— Gemma Chan (@Gemma_Chan1) June 24, 2016
*Googles how to become a citizen of Canada*
— Laura (@Lrbcn) June 24, 2016
Canada's looking pretty appealing right now
— Mary (@This_girlslife) June 24, 2016
? Oh Canada, our home and native land.??
— Mark Pattenden (@marsimpat) June 24, 2016
World leaders also seem to have mixed reactions to the result, BBC reports.
Dutch and French leaders, on the other hand, are excited about the result. Geert Wilders, Dutch Freedom Party leader, said that it is now time for a Dutch referendum.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the Front National in France, said: “Victory for freedom! As I have been asking for years, now we need to have the same referendum in France and in the countries of the EU.”
Getty/PixabayMartin Schulz, president of the European Parliament, said:
We respect the result. We have clarity for the UK to go its own way.
Now is the time for us to behave seriously and responsibly. David Cameron has his responsibilities for his country, we have our responsibilities for the future of the EU. You can see what is happening to sterling on the markets. I don’t want the same thing to happen to the euro.
Witold Waszczykowski, Poland’s foreign minister, said ‘Brexit is bad news for Britain and Europe’, stating: “It is a sign the EU concept needs to change.”
But whichever way the result fell, it was always going to disappoint at least 40 per cent of the country.
With the result we have, we, as a country, now have to come together and make the Leave result work.
