Cierzo : this was not a vote on immigration. Britain will be hurt economically. For most continents UK was the gateway to Europe. Lot of money, businesses and employment came to UK for this very reason. Hence the markets have badly tanked today after the results. Secondly, like you pointed out seems Ireland and Scotland will likely want to leave UK. Lastly, it will strengthen Russian aggression along the EU borders.

This was not a referendum on immigration. Some people made it into exactly that. I don't think EU will be keen to welcome back UK anytime soon. leaving EU also means UK looses leverage in any negotiations now.

I voted to leave.

I won't bother trying to explain my reasons, especially as most reasons and statistics can be twisted and used by both sides, but I'll just say that once the remain camp started claiming that intelligent/educated people wanted us to stay - that set off all kinds of alarm bells! That's just like so much playground bullying - "You're too stupid to understand, that's why you won't let me take your lunch money!" - once they start stating that the opposition are all too stupid to understand, they lose all credibility. And simply pointing out that arse-holes like Trump thought we should leave was meaningless - lots of intelligent and educated people thought we should leave, just because they're not famous and/or influential, or because nobody wanted to use them to influence votes, doesn't mean they're stupid!

And it didn't escape my notice that this was the one and only chance we'd ever get to vote on the issue. A remain vote would have given them carte blanche to do whatever the hell they wanted, and anyone who doesn't believe that should be informed that Britain voted, long ago, to join an open market of European countries, to make it quicker, easier, and friendlier to import and export from nearby countries! That's all it was for! So how the hell did it end up looking so much like a bloody dictatorship?😕

Staying in that lot meant we had no control whatsoever. And remember, just because we've voted to leave, doesn't mean it'll really happen - and if it does, that doesn't mean it'll be a complete severance from the EU - just look at Tony Blair wetting himself in dismay! If we leave completely, he's out of a cushy job...😆

From the outside (I am not British), it looks like the awful immigration politics of Frau Merkel have a lot to do with the results.
I think now the EU will try to minimize the impact. Maybe they will offer the UK a special status on condition they do not respect the result. Hope that British people does not accept it.
Scotland and Northern Irelanf voted against Brexit. Another likely effect is a second referendum for independence in Scotland, and a referendum for the reunification of Ireland.

I think the feeling of not being in control of immigration policy and having to submit to the EU decisions has had a big influence in people's vote. It is not by chance that multucultural London waa the only place in Britain where the remain option won.
Where is Russian aggression along EU borders? I have not seen it.

I am surprised at the result. I really thought the vote to stay would win.
Well.....Trump agrees that this is a good thing....so I can't imagine anything could possibly go wrong.

The United States of America is a country of settlers. Also, there is no such thing as "Native American". No one was native to North America; they all came from elsewhere.

Callmedex : The pressure should have been then on EU reforms. UK was a leading country in EU. Leaving it means less leverage.

Sophia :yes US.... A country of immigrants. Where did your fore father's come from to the US?? Or are you a native American??

An out of control immigration system can cripple a country. Exhibit A: United States of America.

Sophia : educated about what?

Aahhh thanks enlightened one.

You're welcome.

The truth.

why are people so surprised.. stupidity wins yet again... nothing new there for mankind

Europe is screwed, along with the rest of the world, unless people become educated.

England and the rest of Europe need to get their shit together, rather than being pushed around and riven into the ground internally.

I'm voting for an independent Scotland as soon as I fucking can. Screw you England.

I voted to leave. I support democracy and having loads of EU officials (who were not elected) create laws on our behalf is lunacy.

Juncker made it clear that the big issues were not open to reform. The EU is not a democratic entity. Things like unrestricted freedom of movement and the EU parliament cannot be reformed. I would like an EU where real negotiation is possible but it is not possible and never will be.