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| EU Referendum: Birmingham votes Brexit by a whisker | EU Referendum: Birmingham votes Brexit by a whisker |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Birmingham has shocked forecasters by voting to leave the European Union - by a whisker. | Birmingham has shocked forecasters by voting to leave the European Union - by a whisker. |
| With a margin of 3,800 votes, 50.4% of England's second city backed Brexit. | With a margin of 3,800 votes, 50.4% of England's second city backed Brexit. |
| Labour's Gisela Stuart MP, who fronted the Leave campaign, said a "cross-party" effort to "act in the best interests of the country" was necessary. | Labour's Gisela Stuart MP, who fronted the Leave campaign, said a "cross-party" effort to "act in the best interests of the country" was necessary. |
| But Richard Burden, the Labour MP for Northfield who wanted to remain in the EU, is concerned about the economy. | But Richard Burden, the Labour MP for Northfield who wanted to remain in the EU, is concerned about the economy. |
| More on this and other Birmingham and Black Country stories | More on this and other Birmingham and Black Country stories |
| Find out the results near you | Find out the results near you |
| Analysis: Nick Higham, in Birmingham | Analysis: Nick Higham, in Birmingham |
| It was the biggest single voting district in the UK - around 700,000 registered voters - and one of the closest results of the night. Birmingham voted leave by just 3,800 votes. | It was the biggest single voting district in the UK - around 700,000 registered voters - and one of the closest results of the night. Birmingham voted leave by just 3,800 votes. |
| In its West Midlands hinterland the vote was much clearer. Some of the poorest areas voted by the largest margin to quit: 68% to 32% in Dudley. | In its West Midlands hinterland the vote was much clearer. Some of the poorest areas voted by the largest margin to quit: 68% to 32% in Dudley. |
| In the shadow of the neoclassical Birmingham Town Hall, which stands as a monument to the city's 19th Century role as the workshop of the world, the mood ranged from exultation to disbelief. | In the shadow of the neoclassical Birmingham Town Hall, which stands as a monument to the city's 19th Century role as the workshop of the world, the mood ranged from exultation to disbelief. |
| "We're strong enough, brave enough and confident enough to get out there and show the world what we're really made of," said Lisa who works in banking. | "We're strong enough, brave enough and confident enough to get out there and show the world what we're really made of," said Lisa who works in banking. |
| "It's absolutely ridiculous," said a civil servant. "I cannot believe we've gone out. I'm an entrenched European, my girlfriend's German, my car is German, it's ridiculous." | "It's absolutely ridiculous," said a civil servant. "I cannot believe we've gone out. I'm an entrenched European, my girlfriend's German, my car is German, it's ridiculous." |
| Wolverhampton and Dudley's verdicts were more decisive with 63% and 68% supporting Leave, respectively. | Wolverhampton and Dudley's verdicts were more decisive with 63% and 68% supporting Leave, respectively. |
| Overall, in the referendum that saw the UK vote to leave the EU, Birmingham and the Black Country backed leaving by a majority of 291,000 - 59.8% voting to leave, with 40.2% wanting to remain. | Overall, in the referendum that saw the UK vote to leave the EU, Birmingham and the Black Country backed leaving by a majority of 291,000 - 59.8% voting to leave, with 40.2% wanting to remain. |
| Richard Burden, Labour MP for Northfield and an advocate of the Remain campaign, highlighted the plummeting value of the pound and uncertainty of the markets in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the EU, saying: "I don't think many people feel a lot of control today." | Richard Burden, Labour MP for Northfield and an advocate of the Remain campaign, highlighted the plummeting value of the pound and uncertainty of the markets in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the EU, saying: "I don't think many people feel a lot of control today." |