Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Scotland votes Remain
- Cameron to step down as PM
- rUK opts to Leave
- Sturgeon moves on indyref 2
- Pound plunges to lowest level since 1985
Camley’s Cartoon
Camley detects a known item in the baggage area.
Ten in ten seconds: what we know
1. Just heard there has been a vote to leave the EU and want to shout, “Armageddon out of here”? You, friend, are in need of a few certainties. So what do we know?
2. There will be a new PM in place by first week in October as David Cameron announces he will step down. Tory MPs in parliament will choose two candidates to be put forward; the party in the country votes, majority winner takes all.
3. In theory, under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, there will not be a General Election unless the Commons passes a motion of no confidence in HM Government. But how about after October? Speaking on BBC's Today this morning, former Labour minister Peter Mandelson said: "It is more likely than not that an incoming prime minister will want to get his or her own mandate."
4. Nicola Sturgeon will now come under pressure on two fronts: when is the next Scottish independence referendum, and would an independent Scotland adopt the euro or keep the pound?
5. Boris likes a nap. As the media waited to hear from the politician responsible for the biggest political upset in a generation, his spokesperson said he was getting a few hours' kip.
6. Chancellor George Osborne, already the subject of a protest letter from Tory MPs over his anti-Brexit warnings, probably shouldn’t be making long term plans at the Treasury. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is facing criticism from some of his MPs after what many said was a lacklustre campaigning effort.
7. Every local authority area in Scotland voted Remain.
8. The markets and bookies were wrong in backing Remain, the polls were right, in the final hours, in predicting a close vote.
9. The £ has plunged to its lowest level since 1985.
10. This won’t be the last “In/Out” referendum the EU sees. Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch anti-EU movement, is already demanding a vote for his country, as has Marine Le Pen in France.
Afore Ye Go
"I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination."
David Cameron announces he will step down as PM by October.
"The option of a second referendum must be on the table and it is on the table."
FM Nicola Sturgeon
Spot the missing flag pic.twitter.com/qkS3mJ90kB
— Joseph Cotterill (@jsphctrl) June 24, 2016
Scotland's front pages as UK votes Leave in #EUref https://t.co/W0MJVkxvES pic.twitter.com/DLbi9LVM5O
— BBC Scotland News (@BBCScotlandNews) June 24, 2016
“Every single area [in Scotland] has voted to remain. We have got a united country in Scotland which wants to be a part of Europe. The [SNP] manifesto said that if Scotland was dragged out of Europe against the will of its people then the Scottish Parliament would have the right to hold another referendum.”
Former FM Alex Salmond MP
"This does not mean the UK will be in any way less united."
Chief Brexiteer Boris Johnson
A divided nation: How the United Kingdom has voted #EURefResults https://t.co/gUhfMflI6q pic.twitter.com/MS0QnXEqfG
— Telegraph Politics (@TelePolitics) June 24, 2016
Just arrived in Scotland. Place is going wild over the vote. They took their country back, just like we will take America back. No games!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2016
Next Prime minister of UK to be chosen by 150,000 Conservative party members in the next few months from 2-person shortlist made by Tory MPs
— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) June 24, 2016
“It's a victory for decent people.”
UKIP’s Nigel Farage as dawn breaks on a Brexit.
Why are you looking at me? Have I done something wrong? pic.twitter.com/iJnUdCTW2D
— Mathieu von Rohr (@mathieuvonrohr) June 24, 2016
"Clearly there are some very difficult days ahead."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Boris Johnson achieves his ambition. #EURefResults pic.twitter.com/ot3Hm5djwm
— HaveIGotNewsForYou (@haveigotnews) June 24, 2016
All big companies laying off thousands of staff will now start to blame Brexit. Sometimes it will be true. Sometimes it won't.
— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) June 24, 2016
From the FT's Jim Pickard
"As my father used to tell me, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
President of the European Council Donald Tusk, above left with Germany's Angela Merkel, who said: "Let's not beat about the bush: today marks a watershed for Europe."
UK economy latest. pic.twitter.com/C7gbkZqN6z
— Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) June 24, 2016
From BuzzFeed's Jim Waterson
"I hope we're going to resume growth now," says Michael Fallon. And I hope to open the batting for England at Lords next month.
— Marina Hyde (@MarinaHyde) June 24, 2016
Larry never misses a moment pic.twitter.com/S5ezOIrMBt
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) June 24, 2016
Larry the Number Ten cat takes centre stage as the media waits for David Cameron to make a statement.
"It's important to just accept the result and move on, possibly to another country."
Frankie Boyle, Twitter. Later he joked: "A lot of uncertainty ahead for high street banks, as all our armed robbers come back from Spain."
The front page of The New York Times for Friday, June 24 pic.twitter.com/byKJDgV9xl
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 24, 2016
"It's up to Scotland to decide what it does next."
Vote Leave's Suzanne Evans. BBC Good Morning Scotland
Oh and we had a referendum in my flat this morning and voted to declare independence from everyone. pic.twitter.com/aE1DR8B538
— Susan Calman (@SusanCalman) June 24, 2016
“The Federal Election Commission announced how much cash each campaign has on hand. Hillary Clinton is burying Donald Trump $42 million to $1.3 million. I always knew those huge skyscrapers were overcompensating for something in his pants. I just never imagined it was his wallet.”
Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Above, Trump Tower in NYC, plus protesters. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Has anyone tried turning the country off and turning it back on again?
— Kate Carter (@katehelencarter) June 24, 2016
Meanwhile, in EU-supporting France, protesters gathered in Paris to oppose government plans to make working weeks longer and redundancies easier.
Thank you for reading. See you Monday.
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