Britain has decided its destiny lies outside the European Union following a historic referendum that saw 51.9% of voters vote Leave.

Leave won the majority of votes in England and Wales, while Scotland and Northern Ireland backed staying in. Turnout was 71.8% with 30 million votes being cast.

The result means that after 43 years of membership, Britain is set to take steps to leave the union – a process that may take several years to complete. Greenland is the only country to have ever voted to leave , way back in 1982 and it wasn’t until 1985 that negotiations were finally completed.

Prime Minister David Cameron who had campaigned to Remain announced that he is to step down by October. This means that a new Prime Minister would carry out negotiations with the EU and envoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which would begin the exit process.