Calls to leave the UK from Scottish and Irish nationalists in wake of Brexit vote

Following Britain's referendum vote to leave the European Union, politicians from the Scottish National Party and Northern Ireland's Sinn Féin are positioning themselves for their own votes on their future in the United Kingdom.

Both Scotland and Northern Ireland voted in favour of remaining in the European Union, bucking the trend across the UK. Scotland overwhelmingly voted in to stay in the EU by a 62% to 38% margin. All 32 of the country's council areas voted to remain.

Alex Salmond, the leader of the SNP during Scotland's 2014 independence referendum, said prior to today's result he was "quite certain" a Brexit vote would lead to a second referendum. The Scottish National Party's current referendum promises another ballot if there is a "significant and material" change in the UK's constitutional arrangements.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the result in Scotland was a "strong, unequivocal vote". She added that "the people of Scotland see their future as part of the European Union," but stopped short of immediately calling for a second Scottish Independence referendum.

In Northern Ireland, voters backed remain by a margin of 56% to 44%; Out of 18 constituencies, 11 voted to stay in the European Union. Voting along nationalist and unionist lines, DUP voters were more likely to back leave, with Sinn Féin, the UUP, the SDLP voting remain.

Following the result, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness has said the whole of Ireland should be given the opportunity to vote on unification with the party calling for a border vote.

Sammy Wilson of the, DUP told the BBC the Prime Minister David Cameron should to resign, claiming he had lost all credibility.

In a speech this morning, outlining a timetable for his resignation in three months' time, Cameron said the national interests of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland needed to be "protected and advanced" and negotiations with the countries' governments would take place.

Wales backed Brexit with 52% of the country's voters opting to leave. Ukip's leader in the Cardiff Assembly Neil Hamilton said he was "absolutely delighted by the result" and "a little surprised".