A snapshot of key developments since Britain set off a political earthquake by voting last week to leave the European Union.
- Britons vote Brexit -
On Thursday June 23, Britons, many worried by immigration, vote 52 percent to 48 percent in favour of quitting the EU after four decades as a member.
The United Kingdom is thus set to become the first country ever to leave the 28-nation bloc after decades of suspicion over the aims of an ever-closer political union.
Turnout at the historic referendum is just over 72 percent.
- Stocks, pound tumble -
Britain's surprise vote sends shockwaves across global markets on Friday as it ushers in new uncertainty in a world already plagued by weak growth.
Stock exchanges from Tokyo to Paris, London, Frankfurt and New York plummet, while the pound crashes 10 percent to a 31-year low. The euro also plunges against the dollar, while oil prices slide.
- Cameron resigns -
Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, who had campaigned for a "Remain" vote, says he will resign to make way for a new leader.
He says he will leave it to his successor, who is expected to take over on September 9, to trigger the formal process for Britain to leave the EU.
- Remainers in shock -
As supporters of "Leave" campaigner Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) celebrate, the press reflects on the divided nature of the country, after the "Brexit earthquake". Some call it the "birth of a new Britain," while others ask "what the hell happens now?"
A series of racist incidents, notably against the Polish community, are reported.
- Scots, others eye new polls -
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says a second independence referendum is "on the table", while Ireland's Sinn Fein eyes a vote on uniting with Northern Ireland. In London there are calls for the capital to secede from the rest of Britain.
A petition is launched on an official government website calling for a second referendum. By early Thursday it had just over four million signatures.
- Britain's EU man quits -
On Saturday, Britain's European Commissioner Jonathan Hill announces he will stand down, saying he is "very disappointed" by the referendum outcome but "what is done cannot be undone".
- EU seeks quick divorce -
"This process must begin as soon as possible so we don't end up in an extended limbo period," says German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker says: "It is not an amicable divorce but it was also not an intimate love affair."
- Labour party in crisis -
On Sunday, the sense of turmoil deepens as a string of top lawmakers from the opposition Labour party quit in protest at its leader Jeremy Corbyn's lacklustre support for the Remain camp during the campaign.
On Tuesday, Corbyn loses a confidence vote among party lawmakers but he refuses to resign.
"For heaven's sake man, go," Cameron tells Corbyn in parliament on Wednesday.
- Euro 2016 exit -
On Monday, in a second humiliating Brexit in less than a week, tiny Iceland beat England 2-1 in their Euro 2016 last-16 game.
- Cameron's EU swansong -
On Tuesday at a tense Brussels summit -- Cameron's last -- the 27 remaining EU members accept that Britain needs time before triggering Article 50 that will begin the formal divorce proceedings.
But they warn Britain it cannot expect special treatment outside the bloc, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the EU would not tolerate "cherry-picking".
- Stocks recover, pound steadies -
Global stock markets start recovering from the unprecedented sell-off. By Wednesday the FTSE-100 stands above its level ahead of the referendum results. But sterling, while steadying, remains well down from its pre-Brexit poll high of around 1.50 dollars.
- Scotland lobbies Brussels -
On Wednesday, Sturgeon visits Brussels as she seeks to keep Scotland in the EU. Scotland voted strongly for Britain to remain.
But France and Spain reject any possibility of Scotland having a separate role in talks between Britain and the European Union after the Brexit vote, with Madrid wary of a knock-on effect in separatist-minded regions like Catalonia.
- Leadership race -
Leading Brexit campaigner and Justice Minister Michael Gove on Thursday announces a bid to succeed Cameron and attacks referendum ally Boris Johnson, who in a shock move says he will not run for the job.
Interior minister Theresa May, known as a hardliner on immigration, also launches her bid for the party leadership, vowing to unite divided Britain.
A winner will be announced in September.
A snapshot of key developments since Britain set off a political earthquake by voting last week to leave the European Union.
– Britons vote Brexit –
On Thursday June 23, Britons, many worried by immigration, vote 52 percent to 48 percent in favour of quitting the EU after four decades as a member.
The United Kingdom is thus set to become the first country ever to leave the 28-nation bloc after decades of suspicion over the aims of an ever-closer political union.
Turnout at the historic referendum is just over 72 percent.
– Stocks, pound tumble –
Britain’s surprise vote sends shockwaves across global markets on Friday as it ushers in new uncertainty in a world already plagued by weak growth.
Stock exchanges from Tokyo to Paris, London, Frankfurt and New York plummet, while the pound crashes 10 percent to a 31-year low. The euro also plunges against the dollar, while oil prices slide.
– Cameron resigns –
Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, who had campaigned for a “Remain” vote, says he will resign to make way for a new leader.
He says he will leave it to his successor, who is expected to take over on September 9, to trigger the formal process for Britain to leave the EU.
– Remainers in shock –
As supporters of “Leave” campaigner Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) celebrate, the press reflects on the divided nature of the country, after the “Brexit earthquake”. Some call it the “birth of a new Britain,” while others ask “what the hell happens now?”
A series of racist incidents, notably against the Polish community, are reported.
– Scots, others eye new polls –
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says a second independence referendum is “on the table”, while Ireland’s Sinn Fein eyes a vote on uniting with Northern Ireland. In London there are calls for the capital to secede from the rest of Britain.
A petition is launched on an official government website calling for a second referendum. By early Thursday it had just over four million signatures.
– Britain’s EU man quits –
On Saturday, Britain’s European Commissioner Jonathan Hill announces he will stand down, saying he is “very disappointed” by the referendum outcome but “what is done cannot be undone”.
– EU seeks quick divorce –
“This process must begin as soon as possible so we don’t end up in an extended limbo period,” says German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker says: “It is not an amicable divorce but it was also not an intimate love affair.”
– Labour party in crisis –
On Sunday, the sense of turmoil deepens as a string of top lawmakers from the opposition Labour party quit in protest at its leader Jeremy Corbyn’s lacklustre support for the Remain camp during the campaign.
On Tuesday, Corbyn loses a confidence vote among party lawmakers but he refuses to resign.
“For heaven’s sake man, go,” Cameron tells Corbyn in parliament on Wednesday.
– Euro 2016 exit –
On Monday, in a second humiliating Brexit in less than a week, tiny Iceland beat England 2-1 in their Euro 2016 last-16 game.
– Cameron’s EU swansong –
On Tuesday at a tense Brussels summit — Cameron’s last — the 27 remaining EU members accept that Britain needs time before triggering Article 50 that will begin the formal divorce proceedings.
But they warn Britain it cannot expect special treatment outside the bloc, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the EU would not tolerate “cherry-picking”.
– Stocks recover, pound steadies –
Global stock markets start recovering from the unprecedented sell-off. By Wednesday the FTSE-100 stands above its level ahead of the referendum results. But sterling, while steadying, remains well down from its pre-Brexit poll high of around 1.50 dollars.
– Scotland lobbies Brussels –
On Wednesday, Sturgeon visits Brussels as she seeks to keep Scotland in the EU. Scotland voted strongly for Britain to remain.
But France and Spain reject any possibility of Scotland having a separate role in talks between Britain and the European Union after the Brexit vote, with Madrid wary of a knock-on effect in separatist-minded regions like Catalonia.
– Leadership race –
Leading Brexit campaigner and Justice Minister Michael Gove on Thursday announces a bid to succeed Cameron and attacks referendum ally Boris Johnson, who in a shock move says he will not run for the job.
Interior minister Theresa May, known as a hardliner on immigration, also launches her bid for the party leadership, vowing to unite divided Britain.
A winner will be announced in September.
