Brexit: Ramifications of historic Leave vote are dire for UK's political class

The UK has voted to leave the EU. The last time Britain had a say on the issue was in 1975, when the electorate backed staying inside the Common Market.

Decades later, Britain is now set to split from the 28-nation-bloc. Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who has spent the best part of 25 years railing against Brussels, declared 24 June as 'Independence Day'.

But hours before, as the polls closed at 10pm BST, Farage was pessimistic when he told Sky News that he thought Remain had edged the ballot.

However, when morning broke, the pollsters and bookies were proven wrong, with 52% backing Leave and 48% backing Remain on a turnout of more than 70% and 30 million people.

The historic decision leaves David Cameron's political legacy in disarray. The British prime minister is expected to make a speech following the result and he has previously promised to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, a formal notification of Britain's intention to break away from the EU.

In contrast, Vote Leave campaigner Boris Johnson's chances of becoming the next Conservative leader and prime minister have been significantly boosted.

The result also spells bad news for Labour and Remain campaigner Jeremy Corbyn, after some of the party's heartlands backed a Brexit.

The vote is unprecedented and is expected to send a political earthquake triggered under Westminster and further afield, as other EU countries react to UK's decision to split.