As the Leave result of the EU Referendum sinks in following the historic vote which was swung by by just 3.8 per cent, we took to the streets of London to gauge the feelings and opinions of people in the city.
From shock and surprise to real sadness, one thing was clear; the London bubble has not been representative of feelings and frustrations expressed in other areas of the country.
Nearly 60 per cent of Londoners all voted to remain in the European Union, compared to the 42 per cent in the Yorkshire and Humber region, or the 40 per cent in the West Midlands.
But while the country may be divided (it’s a 51.9: 48.1 split, with younger people mostly voting to Remain, and older generations championing the Leave vote), the question everyone now needs answered, is still the same - what happens next?
David Cameron has announced his resignation, with hopes that a new Prime Minister will be selected by October, while politicians have also assured that there’ll be no rush to leave the EU, allowing time for thorough planning and negotiation.
But in the meantime, while a strategy is formed, here’s how Londoners are feeling about the #Brexit.
“Seeing the results roll in was completely shocking. As a researcher, I was saddened to see how misinformation fuelled the leave campaign. I feel like I woke up to a parallel universe today, where bigotry, fear, and alienation triumph over sound evidence. The reverberations from this are unknown, but I am afraid it will entrench divisions and inequalities through the UK. A sad day in Britain, but it will be interesting to see how the coming months and years unfold.”
Jen, 29, epidemiologist
“I’m quite disappointed because there was such a difference in the way different demographics voted. The younger generations who mostly voted to Remain, they’re not going have their voices heard now, they’re not going to be listened to.”
Helen, 28, marketing
“I’ve just come off a night shift in A&E and I’m really devastated about the result. I work in a very positive environment but it’s already beginning to impact there. One of my colleagues who is from Germany has already said she’ll no longer apply for work here, as she fears she won’t be on a level playing field with other trainee doctors now.”
Kate, 31, doctor
“I’m really surprised. We’re very lucky to have the fluidity of movement that we do - I have an Irish passport and most of my team are European - so I’m a bit worried about how we all might be affected, and whether that mix of cross-cultural experience is at risk.”
Laura, 32, events manager
“As a university academic with research funded by the NHS, I'm fearful about my future and the future of the UK as a whole. I’m not proud to be British today. I think many votes were cast for the wrong reason.”
Gemma, 31, postdoctoral researcher
“I do feel like crying, but we have to move forward with love.This morning my mum left me a little note saying ‘don’t worry, it’ll get better’. I think there lots of people, in her generation particularly, who now feel guilty about the way the vote will affect younger people in the country. I feel bad for those who are disappointed in their own generation.”
Emma, 21, actor
“I am disheartened by the result of the referendum. As cumbersome an institution as it might be, the European Union stands above all as an attempt to overcome the differences that had pushed us against each other in a not so distant past; British people seem to have forgotten about this.”
Francesca, 33, research associate
But while the majority of Londoners were in the Remain camp, of course, not everyone felt the same way.
Many of those who chose to vote Leave have been celebrating the Brexit result on Twitter, reiterating the reasons behind their vote.
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