Signing off

Well that was an interesting night, regardless of which way you voted.

The British public has made a huge decision and the fallout has only just begun.

Many thanks for following along live blog this morning and we hope you have found it informative.

Of course it is not the end of our coverage though, keep an eye on the Chronicle website for the latest Brexit reaction.

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Closely run in Cheshire West

The result in Cheshire West was much closer than the national result, with leave winning by fewer than 3,000 votes. This chart shows just how close it was.

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Is Corbyn next?

Senior Labour MPs have reportedly tabled a motion of no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

The motion, to be voted on as soon as Tuesday, presents the first serious challenge to Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

It’s been submitted to the Parliamentary Labour Party chairman by Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey, according to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.

Could he be the second casualty of this momentous result following David Cameron?

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves his home in north London, as David Cameron seeks MPs' backing to launch British air strikes against Islamic State (IS) extremists in Syria. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday December 2, 2015. Bombing missions are likely to begin within days if the House delivers what he hopes will be a comfortable majority after Mr Corbyn abandoned attempts to impose his anti-war stance on the party and allowed a free vote. See PA story POLITICS Syria. Photo credit should read: Hannah McKay/PA Wire
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn
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More on Boris

Will Boris Johnson be the next man to step into No. 10?

The former Mayor of London is being tipped to succeed David Cameron following the shock Brexit result.

Chronicle chief reporter David Holmes has been taking a look at how Boris’s ambitious gamble has paid off and how he attempted to play it down on a visit to Chester last year.

You can read his report here.

Boris Johnson in Chester city centre with Morgan and Lauren Wood from Saltney
Boris Johnson in Chester city centre with Morgan and Lauren Wood from Saltney
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Cheshire West results reminder

At the back end of the declarations just before 6am this morning, the Cheshire West results were announced.

Leave votes totalled 98,082 (50.6%) with Remain trailing on 95,455 (49.4%). There were 96 rejected ballots.

This meant a strong turnout of 74.5% in the borough with 193,633 votes cast out of an eligible 259,878.

Neighbouring council areas boroughs Cheshire East, Halton and Flintshire also voted to leave, while Wirral had Remain by a narrow margin.

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Scotland's First Minister speaks

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is the next in line to speak to the media and she declared another referendum on independence is now ‘highly likely’.

She said: “The Scottish people face being taken out of the EU against their will. I see that as democratically unacceptable.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrives to cast her vote in the EU referendum
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrives to cast her vote in the EU referendum (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
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Prime Minister elect?

Boris Johnson, one of the most prominent figures in the Vote Leave campaign, has been giving his reaction to the result.

Many are tipping the former Mayor of London to take over from Prime Minister David Cameron, who has announced he will resign.

Mr Johnson said: “I have known David Cameron for a long time and I believe he is one of the most extraordinary politicians of our age.

“I think all of us politicians should thank the British public because in a way they have been doing our job for us. We gave them one of the biggest questions of all.

“I believe it was entirely right and inevitable to put this to the people, because it’s about the people.

“In voting to leave the EU there’s now no need for haste. As the Prime Minister said, nothing will change overnight.”

Boris Johnson with Chester Cathedral heritage manager Nick Fry
Boris Johnson with Chester Cathedral heritage manager Nick Fry
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Airbus disappointment

Reaction is still coming in to this momentous decision by the British public.

Aerospace giant Airbus, which employs 6,000 people at their Broughton plant, have said they are disappointed with the result.

You can read a full statement from them here.

The Beluga over the Airbus factory in Broughton
The Beluga over the Airbus factory in Broughton
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Cameron's speech in full

Here’s what the PM said earlier this morning.

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Value of the pound falls

As soon as results began to come in from across the UK and the likelihood of a Leave victory became clear, the value of the pound began to drop.

Against the dollar it has fallen to its lowest level since 1985 as Britain voted for Brexit.

On the stock markets, the FTSE 100 plunged nearly 500 points to 5,880 - down 7.19% - with experts saying there is more to come.

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Watch the result announcement

There were loud cheers after it was revealed the leave side had won in Cheshire West with 50.7% of the vote.

Cheshire West and Chester Council returning officer Steve Robinson made the announcement at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

You can see that moment and the jubilant reaction by Vote Leave campaigners on our website here.

Vote Leave campaigners from Chester UKIP Sue Tims, Frank Samuel, John Eccles and Danny Watling celebrate victory
Vote Leave campaigners from Chester UKIP Sue Tims, Frank Samuel, John Eccles and Danny Watling celebrate victory
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Bank of England 'volatility' warning

Bank of England governor Mark Carney has said volatility ‘can be expected’ in the wake of the Brexit vote but said the Bank is prepared to provide £250 billion to support markets.
He said: “Some market and economic volatility can be expected as this process unfolds.
“As a backstop, and to support the functioning of markets, the Bank of England stands ready to provide more than £250 billion of additional funds through its normal facilities.”
“The Bank will not hesitate to take additional measures as required as markets adjust and the UK economy moves forward.”

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Eddisbury MP thoughts

Conservative MP for Eddisbury, Antoinette Sandbach, was at the Cheshire West count supporting the Remain campaign.

She said she would ‘respect’ the decision of the British public.

Ms Sandbach said: “It was a good day for democracy because of the very high turnout.

“Whatever the British people decide I, as an MP, will stick with an respect.”

Eddisbury MP Antoinette Sandbach
Eddisbury MP Antoinette Sandbach
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Passport fallout

It is an understandable question, what happens to our passports now? After all they do have ‘European Union’ printed at the top of the front cover.

Answers to all your questions here.

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More from Cameron

David Cameron said he had put his ‘heart and soul’ into leading the country during his six-year tenure has Prime Minister.

Earlier he announced he will step down as PM outside 10 Downing Street after campaigning for Britain to stay in the EU.

Mr Cameron said: “There can be no doubt about the result. The world has been watching the choice that Britain has made.”

Prime Minister David Cameron speaks outside 10 Downing Street, London, with wife Samantha where he announced his resignation after Britain voted to leave the European Union
Prime Minister David Cameron speaks outside 10 Downing Street, London, with wife Samantha where he announced his resignation after Britain voted to leave the European Union (Image: Lauren Hurley/PA Wire)

Who steps in? Boris Johnson? Michael Gove? Theresa May?

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Looking forward

What does this mean for the region’s big employers? Both Vauxhall in Ellesmere Port and Airbus in Broughton were among the companies to argue strongly against a Brexit.

Prior to the vote, a Vauxhall spokesman said: “Vauxhall is part of the British and European automotive industry and there is no doubt that leadership and employees will follow closely the debate on the European referendum.

“The importance of the UK market for Vauxhall, Opel Group and GM becomes clear by the numbers. It is the fourth largest global market for GM and the biggest in Europe.

“Vauxhall is part of a fully integrated European company, benefiting from the free movement of goods and people within the world’s largest trading bloc, the EU. For the UK not to be part of the EU would be undesirable for our business and the sector as a whole.”

The Vauxhall plant at Ellesmere Port
The Vauxhall plant at Ellesmere Port
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Your thoughts

We want to hear your reaction to the result this morning, whichever side of the debate you stand. Tweet us @ChesterChron or drop us a Facebook comment.

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The UK landscape

Here’s an updated map of the UK showing how each council area voted, Cheshire West comes up blue for leave.

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Nigel Farage in Chester

UKIP leader Nigel Farage has had a good night. Back in November he visited Chester as part of his ‘Say No to EU’ tour, here’s what he had to say:

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Prime Minister to resign

Prime Minister David Cameron has been giving a statement outside Downing Street. The PM, who campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU, has announced he will resign from his post in reaction to the result.

He said: “We can be proud of the fact that in this nation we trust the people with these decisions.

“The British people have voted to leave the EU and there view must have respected. Their will is an instruction that must be delivered, it was not a decision that was taken lightly.

“I think the country needs fresh leadership to take it in this new direction. I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that tries to take this country to its next destination.”

Mr Cameron added he believed the UK should have a new Prime Minister in place by the Conservative Party Conference in October.

Prime Minister David Cameron speaks to workers about the benefits of Britain staying in the EU, during a visit to Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant
Prime Minister David Cameron speaks to workers about the benefits of Britain staying in the EU, during a visit to Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant (Image: Andrew Yates/PA Wire)
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Divided opinions

So the vote in Cheshire West was incredibly close, 50.65% in favour of leave to 49.35% for remain. Naturally opinions are still divided the morning after.

Readers have been having their say on the Chronicle’s Facebook page. Here are the ‘most liked’ comments from either side.

Adele Shone said: “Why does no one have belief in the country they were born in. You rely on yourself not others , so why everyone so scared on standing alone we won wars for this countries independence.”

Su Johnstone said: “This decision is so wrong on so many levels. this wasnt just about immigration and thats what most people made their decision on. Human rights,disability rights, working rights, funding for charities, Benefit rights. You all cried out in protest at the austerity cuts and benefit capping by our government now watch the hammer fall on all of us.”

(Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
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Full national results

The final national results have now been formally declared - Britain has voted to leave the EU.
51.9% of voters backed Brexit, while 48.1% supported Remain.
It means more than 17.4m people voted to Leave, against 16.1m supporting Britain’s membership.
72.2% of registered voters turned out to vote.

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Ellesmere Port and Neston MP reacts

Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Justin Madders and CWaC councillor Nicole Meardon supporting the Remain campaign
Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Justin Madders and CWaC councillor Nicole Meardon supporting the Remain campaign
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A quick post-result clear up

So this was the Ellesmere Port Sports Village buzzing with activity as the counters busily counted ballots through the night.

The Cheshire West and Chester EU referendum count at Ellesmere Port Sports Village
The Cheshire West and Chester EU referendum count at Ellesmere Port Sports Village

After the Cheshire West result was announced just before 6am, it quickly cleared out to this.

An empty Ellesmere Port Sports Village following the EU referendum count
An empty Ellesmere Port Sports Village following the EU referendum count
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East votes to leave

Over in Cheshire East, they also voted to leave the European Union.
The result was declared at about 4.45am in Macclesfield, with 113,163 voting to leave and 107,962 voting to remain in the EU.

Crewe Chronicle reporter Belinda Ryan said there was no celebration as the result was announced at Macclesfield Leisure Centre. The mood was subdued and the room cleared quickly.
The turnout was 77.36%.

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Delight for Brexit

Chronicle reporters David Holmes and Mike Fuller were at Ellesmere Port Sports Village overnight.

Here’s David’s video of the declaration.

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High turnout

It was, as expected, a closely fought battle across the UK as ‘Leave’ won by 52% to 48%.

England and Wales voted strongly for Brexit, while London, Scotland and Northern Ireland backed staying in the EU.

As you’d expect, the turnout was high (71.8%), the highest turnout at a UK election since 1992.

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How we voted locally

Let’s deal with Cheshire West and Chester first. How did we vote here?

After the hundreds of ballot boxes were brought in when the polls closed at 10pm last night, counters beavered away to tally the votes at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

The Cheshire West result was announced just before 6am.

Leave votes totalled 98,082 (50.6%) with Remain trailing on 95,455 (49.4%). There were 96 rejected ballots.

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Welcome

Independence Day or complete catastrophe?

How you view the news which you’ll be waking up to this morning will probably depend on which way you voted in yesterday’s EU Referendum.

More than 30 million people went to the polls and it emerged earlier this morning that the Leave campaign had won, by 52% to 48%.

Locally, Cheshire West and Chester was ‘on trend’ with the nation and voted to exit the European Union.

We’ll have all the reaction to this momentous decision on our live blog through today. Stick with us.

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