Notes

Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett writes for the Guardian;

"Don’t let that feeling dissipate; mobilise, organise, strategise, and above all hope. Take heart in the fact that you’re more than likely part of this optimistic, open-minded gang, that there is a potential there simmering beneath the surface. By all means feel bitter, and miserable, and worried about what is going to happen next, but after that, please take heart: you are the 75%, and what you voted for was noble, and one day will be again."
(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/24/young-angry-eu-referendum)

It is not a call to arms for the younger demographic who were the most misrepresented in the referendum vote, but it is the first step in uniting a nation who have been so infamously divided over the past few months. Social Media is a fast growing tool in news, but it is dominated by the younger generations. The percentage of people using it dilutes the further up the age bracket that you go. It should be no surprise then that the seeming majority of users appeared to be overwhelmingly in favour to remain within the EU, yet the shock of the referendum result struck deepest, there.

#Ivotedleave was at one point last night, the top trending topic in the UK. Just how many people were using it to gain coverage for ads or to mock the people seriously representing themselves with the hashtag would take days to sift through. It struck a cord with many social media users though who possibly didn't realise the amount of support 'Leave' had generated online. It was only the following morning that the extent of this support became public knowledge.

One aspect of the voting has been focused massively on the demographic and which age brackets voted for either side. I'm sure everyone has seen the graph going from 'Remain' to 'Leave' the older these brackets go. It has sparked a debate that the older generations have decided the youth's future and has even developed into people criticising others for seemingly attacking the older citizens' right to vote. From my personal viewpoint, there is no doubt in my mind that nobody's vote counts, or should count, more than anybody else's. I wholeheartedly accept the majority decision of the UK's people to vote 'Leave'.

The older population have endured some of the most difficult times known to modern man, fought for our nation and sacrificed an unfathomable amount. For that, everyone is incredibly grateful. They have also enjoyed some of Britain's most prosperous times with travel, the NHS and even until recently, the fifth largest economy in the world. What resonates with their vote is that they have risked the chance of today's youth of enjoying the same chances and opportunities in life, when the younger population so clearly stated that they were not prepared to do so.

Nothing as of yet has fallen over, but it's now up to a new 'Brexit' government to keep Britain's plates spinning, and they have just started spinning another. 65 million people reside in the UK with 17 million voting to leave the EU. Those 17 million must now carry the responsibility of the other 48, to build, to develop and to prosper.
It may have been the Daily Mash where an article wondering who exactly Britain were claiming their country back from was launched, but the point exists nonetheless. Prior to the polls closing last night, the Pound was at $1.50, Britain had one of the strongest economies and had access to one of the biggest markets in the world. Quite what needed saving, or 'reclaiming' is not hugely evident. Of course, the main argument is that we can stand on our own two feet and that we do not want to be watched over by anyone. Unfortunately in doing so, we've chopped off one of our feet, and it will be interesting to see quite how we stand. Scotland is almost certain to leave the UK and there are talks of one Ireland again. Only England and Wales had Leave majorities.

In Immigration, the Government does 'control our borders' with immigrants from outside of the EU. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36148299 Last year according to the BBC, 7,000 more immigrants moved to the UK from outside the EU than from inside, meaning the UK could already control more than half of its gross migration. This is a fact that has been in my view, consistently overlooked. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36382199)

Whatever your view, the majority of 35+ year olds has given a 1.2million majority for those who disagreed. The repercussions have already begun, with that majority effectively firing David Cameron who in the interest of individual responsibility, simply cannot continue. The 17 million now have to convince the rest of the UK, many big businesses, world leaders and young voters that they have indeed, made the correct call. With the Pound at its lowest value since 1985, the fall of a recently elected Prime Minister and the sorrow felt for us from around the world, it is hardly the ideal start. Negotiations to leave the EU may not be immediate, but the need to unite the nation absolutely is.