European Union referendum polling day – as it happened

Earlier the pound surged to a 2016 high against the dollar and also appreciated against the Euro but it has fallen back this afternoon:

One of my Guardian colleagues, Maya Wolfe-Robinson, has been told that an inability to get back to vote because of strike action on the continent is insufficient reason to be allowed an emergency proxy.

Others appear to have the same problem:

Earlier we highlighted this lovely gallery of quirky polling stations up and down the land from the Guardian’s picture desk. We’re also starting to receive pictures from readers around the country.

Emma Cozzi sent this, a church community centre in Hove.

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You can see more pictures readers have sent, including one from Stephanie Steele, who lives above her polling station in Windsor, and add yours (but please don’t tell us which way you are voting) here.

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Amidst all the political gambling on the outcome of the referendum, William Hill points to an interesting activity in a side bet on Theresa May becoming the next Tory leader.

It has halved May’s odds from 6/1 to 3/1, making her a clear second favourite, behind 11/4 favourite Boris Johnson.

William Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe said: “Ms May had drifted right out in the odds over recent months, finding very little support with political punters, but suddenly she seems to be back in favour and the money is hinting that she might be well placed to be a serious contender for the top job.”

23 Jun 201609.55 EDT

Rowena Mason

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Nigel Farage is still expected at a Leave.EU party hosted by Ukip donor Arron Banks tonight, despite triggering speculation over his whereabouts by pulling out of a Channel 4 debate last night citing family reasons.

Sources confirmed he had decided instead to have dinner with his son, who has been abroad for work for nine months. It also looked like he was none too keen on bumping into fellow C4 guest Alan Sked, a former Ukip leader who has been very rude about him.

Farage looked chipper as he voted in his home village of Westerham in Kent this morning and is understood to have been having a relaxing lunch before getting ready for the big night.

23 Jun 201609.47 EDT

Frances Perraudin

The library in Birstall, outside which MP Jo Cox was murdered seven days ago, is serving as a polling station and there is a light police presence outside.

David Smith, the deputy returning officer in the area, says turnout seems high (postal voter turnout looks like it will be over 80%) and that the region’s count hall in Huddersfield will hold a minute’s silence for the MP at 11.30am.

Smith says the last time he oversaw a count in the area was when Jo Cox was elected as the constituency’s MP. Fighting back tears, he says: “I work with politicians everyday and they have a bad press, but everything they say about her is true.”

On the stroke of 12.50pm, the time that Cox was killed seven days ago, around 200 people gathered around the corner from the polling station in Birstall market square to take part in a vigil for the MP. Holding hands, the crowd held a minute’s silence before chanting “we stand together” and singing hymns.

Paul Knight, the vicar of Birstall, who led the vigil, said Cox’s death had caused the country to stop and think about the decision facing them in the EU referendum.

“The country paused after a very uncomfortable period of argument and exaggeration, if not untruth, and I hope that pause, though it has come about through such a tragic incident, will make people carefully think through the issues.”

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The steps of nearby Batley town hall, which was also being used as polling station, were decked in floral tributes to the MP.

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Turnout could be similar to last year’s general election, according to a BMG Research poll for the Electoral Reform Society [ERS]. It found that 67% of people said they would definitely vote and a further 12% said they would probably vote. At last year’s election the turnout was 66%.

A high turnout is thought likely to favour remain, but the survey also found that older people who are more likely to vote leave are more likely to vote than younger people.

Just 54% of 18-24 year olds said they would definitely vote today, compared to 79% of over 65s. While up on last month’s 47% for 18-24 year olds, it is still a “stark gap”, according to ERS.

Katie Ghose, its chief executive, said: “Considering the fact that this is a once in a generation vote, the fact that turnout could be similar or lower than last year’s general election is a shame if true. This referendum is arguably more important than a general election as every votes counts and the result will affect the UK for decades to come.

“A poor turnout risks people viewing this issue as unclosed, and we could see calls for further referendums or questioning of the validity of the result from either side.

Nobody wants a result based on a small minority of registered voters. Instead this is an opportunity to have a decisive result, so we hope everyone gets out to vote before the 10pm deadline.”

“The demographic gap is worrying – with 71% of wealthier Brits saying they’ll vote compared to just 62% of those from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds, and with only half of 18-24 year olds saying they’ll vote. This referendum can’t be decided by one demographic on behalf of another – it needs to be the result of a great national conversation involving everyone.”

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23 Jun 201609.23 EDT

Steven Morris

Welsh first minister – and Labour leader in Wales - Carwyn Jones has voted.

He’s been campaigning hard in the Welsh valleys in recent days trying to get that Labour vote out for Remain in one of the party’s traditional strongholds. But Ukip has also been getting stronger in the valleys. It will be fascinating to find out how valleys folk have voted today. They’ve benefitted from millions of pounds of EU money – but it’s easy to find people concerned about immigration here too.

23 Jun 201609.21 EDT

Libby Brooks

Remain campaigners in Glasgow have set up a wish tree in Buchanan Street to rival those set up during the independence campaign.

In case you missed this from the indyref it was a charmingly empowering/nauseatingly twee device that we had a lot up here with folk leaving their wishes for an independent Scotland.

Now there is one for the EUref and I feel that the circle has been fully squared: