Brexit vote live: The night that changed Britain as it happened 10 years ago

The pound keeps falling

4.41am The pound, already in the throes of a historic collapse, continues to plunge on Dimbleby’s announcement, eventually sinking to a 31-year low.

The largest one-day fall in sterling’s history is one of the most dramatic currency moves ever seen in a major developed-market currency, far exceeding that of Black Wednesday in 1992.

Paul Clements23 June 2026 04:41

Dimbleby: We’re out

4.40am With no time for a trigger warning, the veteran anchor of the BBC’s results coverage David Dimbleby calls it.

“Well, at 20 minutes to 5, we can now say the decision taken in 1975 by this country to join the Common Market has been reversed by this referendum to leave the EU… The British people have spoken and the answer is: We’re out.”

David Dimbleby breaks it to BBC viewers: ‘We’re out’

Paul Clements23 June 2026 04:40

The BBC shows ‘ludicrous caution’

4.37am Apparently in denial about the result, the BBC can only bring itself to announce it is “likely that the Leave campaign has built up a clear lead”.

Paul Clements23 June 2026 04:37

Leading Remainers throw in the towel

4.28am Ardent Remain campaigner and Tory MP Anna Soubry tweets: “I will respect the result. It’s a dreadful decision. We have to make the best of it.”

Paul Clements23 June 2026 04:28

A new Leave projected vote

4.20am Based on partial results and modelling of newly available turnout data, Leave is projected by both BBC and ITV to surpass the 16.76m votes needed to secure victory.

Paul Clements23 June 2026 04:20

And the next prime minister will be…

4.10am John Rentoul tweets: “Some people suggesting Theresa May as a unity candidate. Tory party members won’t wear it.

“It’s Boris Johnson. We had better get used to it.”

Theresa May and Boris Johnson (Eddie Hughes/PA) (PA Media)

The Independent23 June 2026 04:10

Union, what union?

4.07am Former Independent editor Andrew Marr tweets: “This (probably) means the end of the UK as we have known it. Oh, and the government is pretty much shot, as well.”

Paul Clements23 June 2026 04:07

Britain had lost to Farage

We asked readers of The Independent to share their memories of the Brexit referendum. Add your memories here

I still remember, on the night after the vote, Farage claiming that he had lost. It was obvious that he had won, but he wanted to make some money for a friend. The pound shot up when some believed that he had lost, and then collapsed when people realised that Britain had lost to Farage and his friend made money. Farage was a con man to the end.

Hera

Jacqui Merrington23 June 2026 04:06

Nigel Farage admits Leave has won

4.04am In his first impromptu speech of the night, Farage says: “Dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom… This will be a victory for ordinary people.”

Addressing Leave supporters, he also claims that June 23rd will be remembered in history as the “UK’s independence day”.

Nigel Farage’s ‘independence day’ speech

But he also says that “we have done it without having to fight, we have done it without a bullet being fired”.

It is widely criticised as insensitive, coming just days after the murder of MP Jo Cox during the campaign.

Public tributes for murdered MP Jo Cox (AFP/Getty)

The Independent updates its digital edition’s front page.

The Independent's 5am special edition on referendum night — The Independent’s 5am special edition on referendum night (The Independent)

Paul Clements23 June 2026 04:04

Keep calm and carry cash

3.55am Tory MP and Leave campaigner Jacob Rees-Mogg reassures the BBC that, despite the pound now being in near freefall, if there is to be a recession, it won’t be because of Brexit.

Rather, “there are fragile economic conditions in other parts of the world. I can’t say no recession ever, but not caused by Brexit specifically”.