Welcome to The Independent’s EU referendum results blog… 10 years on.To mark a decade since the Brexit vote, this special page replays the events of the referendum night of 23 June 2016 in “real time”, as if it were a breaking news story today.Everyone remembers where they were the night that David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage shaped the Brexit vote that changed Britain.From the moment polls closed at 10pm on 23 June 2016 to the official declaration confirming Britain’s Leave vote at 7.40am the next morning and the reaction that followed, we are bringing you every twist as it happened.Join us as events unfold, highlighting how early confidence in a Remain victory gives way to one of the most unexpected election results in modern British political history – a 52 per cent vote to Leave the European Union.This live event is part of The Independent’s new campaign, Europe: The Way Back, exploring how Britain can rebuild its relationship with Europe. Click here to join the campaign, sign up to our free newsletter and shape the debate Now read on – and experience Brexit night as it unfolded a decade ago...PinnedJoin our campaign to rebuild Britain's relationship with EuropeThe Independent has launched Europe: The Way Back to explore ways to rebuild Britain's future relationship with Europe. Join the community here and receive our free weekly newsletter hosted by David Maddox and Millie Cooke; unlock expert analysis and opinion; join the debate with like-minded pro-Europeans; plus get exclusive access to content and events.Europe: The Way Back (The Independent)Jacqui Merrington23 June 2026 17:24Polls close10pm, Thursday June 23, 2016 Across the country, polls close in the 2016 EU referendum.For whom the bell bongs: Big Ben gets ready to strike (AFP/Getty)Paul Clements22 June 2026 22:00Eye of the storm10.01pm For many, it has been a struggle to get to the polling station. An unseasonal weather front – from continental Europe, of all places – has brought flash flooding to swathes of the south and south-east England, closing several major London stations, including Waterloo, Euston and London Bridge.Commuters at London Waterloo after torrential rail caused cancellations on EU referendum day (Triin Photographer)A flooded car park at a polling station in Chessington, south London, after heavy rain (@hjyoungs) (PA)The travel chaos leaves tens of thousands of commuters stranded on packed concourses, many unable to get home in time to cast their vote. The Independent22 June 2026 22:01Farage concedes defeat10.03pm Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader and a key Leave campaigner, tells Sky News: “It’s been an extraordinary referendum campaign, turnout looks to be exceptionally high – and it looks like Remain will edge it”.Nigel Farage, leader of Ukip, casts his vote in the EU referendum (AFP/Getty)The Independent22 June 2026 22:03Remain predicted to win10.08pm In the absence of an official exit poll, YouGov uses some on-the-day surveys conducted outside polling stations to predict the final result: “Remain 52 per cent, Leave 48 per cent.”The Independent22 June 2026 22:08Kellner's verdict10.15pm Pollster Peter Kellner publishes a blog predicting that Remain will have an 8.5 per cent lead over Leave.“The final UK result should be somewhere in the range of Remain 51.2-57.3 per cent, Leave 42.7-48.8 per cent”The Independent22 June 2026 22:15The Brexit DebatesTen years after the EU referendum, has Brexit been a success? Have your say here and see what GB News’s deputy political editor Tom Harwood and PoliticsJoe’s political editor Ava Santina have to say as they set out the case for and against the economic success of BrexitJacqui Merrington22 June 2026 22:30Boris says democracy has been served10.41pm Boris Johnson issues a thank you to the public for voting. It’s his last post on Twitter for several days - he goes very quiet after the result.Johnson wrote two fabled newspaper columns before the referendum – one arguing to leave the EU, one to remain – written before he decided to publicly back the Brexit campaign. One of the few people to read both columns was his sister. Rachel Johnson says, 10 years on, his unpublished article in support of the EU reads very differentlyJacqui Merrington22 June 2026 22:41The pound rises11pm With the count well underway across the country, sterling hits $1.5018, its highest point against the dollar since December 2015. The Independent22 June 2026 23:00The Independent dares to hope…11.01pm The Independent’s first daily edition front-page of the night carries the headline: “In The Lead: Early opinion polls suggest Remain campaign is heading for victory in referendum battle that will decide UK's future”.The first edition of the Independent's daily edition as polls closed on EU referendum day (The Independent)Ten years on, The Independent's Daily Edition is still available seven days a week. Check out the latest front pages hereThe Independent22 June 2026 23:01