European Union referendum polling day – as it happened

Nigel Farage has put out a final Leave.EU video appeal that picks up Boris Johnson rallying cry to make today “Independence Day”. It features lots of nostalgic clips: Ian Botham winning the ashes in 1981, British troops in the Falklands, steam trains, and spitfires.

Column Eastwood leader of the SDLP has used his daughter Rosa (who is one today) to make a last ditch video appeal for remain.

Talking outside a local polling station in Derry city he said: “I want to make sure Rosa grows up in the European Union”.

23 Jun 201608.48 EDT

Sarah Marsh

We’ve been asking our readers to send over their referendum day photographs and comments. Here’s a selection:

Mark, 49, Cologne:

The EU referendum has been in the news here a lot and Germany is fully aware of the implications whichever way the result goes. Germany does not want to see the UK leave and truly believe we’re stronger together. I’m an expat who came to Germany after leaving the RAF and married my German spouse. I came over 20 years ago. Now all I can now do is sit and watch, as I’m not allowed to vote due to being away from the UK for too long. The rest of my family are all in the UK and I know they’ll be making the right decision. As for me? I will have to wait until breakfast tomorrow for the result.

Naomi Tayler, 38, South Cambridgeshire:

It was a busy polling station in Melbourne at 7am this morning, I was accompanied to vote by my cocker spaniel, Bella and border terrier, Daisy, who are now regular attendees at the polling station. Unfortunately the dogs were so enthusiastic they ruined a fellow voters white trousers by jumping up!

Catherine Phipps, 20, Paris:

I’m a student at the University of London Institute in Paris, and will be following the coverage in Paris with my other British friends who live here. None of the French people can understand why we would leave. I don’t either.

Chloe, 27, Harrow:

My polling station has pimped up for the day with a lot of patriotic memorabilia. Is this what democracy looks like?

Kate Smith, 19, Newcastle upon Tyne:

I’ve only voted twice before, but both of those times I was in and out of the polling station within minutes. Today, when I arrived, there was a queue of around 15 people lined up outside – it was 8am! The most encouraging thing was that of these 15 people, around two thirds were under 25. I’m so glad that my generation is engaging in this referendum, which in my opinion could be the most important decision we could make.

Help us document what’s happening around the UK on polling say by sharing your stories, photos and videos here.

There’s been little sign of leave campaigner Boris Johnson today. That’s because he’s been attending his daughter graduation ceremony in St Andrews. Will he make it back to London in time to vote?

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A poll of polls by Britain Elects puts the likely outcome on 51% for remain and 49% for leave.

Polls in the last 10 days of the campaign have been split, but the last four all have Remain ahead.

23 Jun 201608.28 EDT

Caroline Davies

Long queues have been reported outside some polling stations as voters cast their ballots in Britain’s closely fought EU referendum.

In London and parts of the south-east many were forced to brave torrential rain and navigated flooded streets to have their say.

David Cameron ignored questions about the weather, saying only “Good morning” as he and his wife Samantha cast their votes at Methodist Hall in Westminster.

The Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, speaking outside his Kent home, said he believed the leave camp had a “very strong chance” because of the weather, adding: “But it’s all about turnout and those soft remainers staying at home.”

23 Jun 201608.22 EDT

Henry McDonald

Voting is said to be “brisk” across Northern Ireland in the EU referendum according to the Electoral Office in the region.

Unofficially it is said the vote could be as high as 70% in the region.

If this is the case it will be far higher than the turnout for the Northern Ireland Assembly elections last month which was 55%.

There are 619 polling stations across the province and the votes will be counted at eight different centres before the full Northern Ireland result is declared in Belfast’s Titanic Centre.

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23 Jun 201608.19 EDT

Steven Morris

North Wiltshire Tory MP James Gray (a passionate leave supporter) says if people vote to remain he will accept “the democratic will of the people”, but only if it is a “reasonable majority” suggestion around 60-40.

Are the Leave campaigners paving the way for the next wave of campaigning if they lose?

23 Jun 201608.16 EDT

Sarah Marsh

Betfair has taken £5m on the EU referendum this morning as punters rush to place final bets ahead of tomorrow’s results.

There has been a flurry of bets, predominantly on staying in the EU, according to a spokeswoman. “The Scottish referendum saw nearly £10m traded on the day, so we’re anticipating at least that amount,” she said.

The company says it has taken £56m on the political event. Betfair said their biggest bet of the morning had been £28,500 on Remain, adding that they had had eight bets that day of £20,000 or more. Overall, the biggest bet they’ve seen has been £315,000 on remain.

It’s a similar picture for Ladbrokes, which reported bets of over £1m in the last 24 hours. Most of the money was on the Remain side it said. The average stake on Remain is now £400, while the average on Leave is £70.

A spokesperson for Coral described betting as brisk this morning, saying that there had been numerous four figure bets laid, predominantly on Remain. So far it has had one bet of £4,000 on Remain (at 1/4) and a £2,000 punt on Leave (at 11/4).

“The majority of bets today are for Remain, which has seen the odds on Britain staying in the EU shortening from 1/4 to 1/7, and Leave out to 4/1, from 11/4.”

It added that while more shop customers are predominantly backing out, online ones are for stay. “This reflects an older customer base who bet in shops wanting out, and the younger customers who bet online are for staying.”

It’s a similar picture at William Hill, which makes Remain a 2/9 favourite – equating to an 81% chance of winning.

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